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The  John  Lawson  Monographs 

OF  THE 

Trinity  College  Historical  Society 

DURHAM,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


VOL.  I 


THE  AUTOBIOGRAPHY 

OF  BRANTLEY  YORK 


DURHAM,  N.  C. 

The  Seeman  Prixtery 

1910 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Preface   vii 

Introductory  Sketch   ix 

Chapter  I. 
Birth — Extraordinary  Snow — Parentage — Family  1 

Chapter  II. 
Ancestry   2 

Chapter  III. 
Boyhood — Early  Education — Religious  Impressions — Ignorance 

and  Superstitions  of  the  Bush  Creek  Neighborhood 4 

Chapter  IV. 
My   Father   Involved   in   Debt — Property   Sold — Family   Scat- 
tered           12 

Chapter  V. 
Removal  of  the  Family 14 

Chapter  VI. 
The  Moral  Conditions  of  the  Neighborhood — A   Young  Lady 

Converted  at  a  Dance  Frolic — A  Revival  of  Religion. ...         19 

Chapter  VII. 
The    Family    Removes — Engages     in     Farming — First    Camp 

Meeting — Conviction  and  Conversion 20 

Chapter  VIII. 
Secret  Prayer — Class  Meetings — Baud  Meetings 24 

Chapter  IX. 
1824-1837 — Camp  Meetings — The  Ministry — Teaching 27 

Chapter  X. 
The  Origin  of  Trinity  College 44 

Chapter  XI. 
Clemonsville — Itinerant    Teaching — Olin   High    School — Blind- 
ness— Career  as  Author — York  Collegiate  Institute 49 

Chapter  XII. 
The  Commencement  of  the  War 79 

Chapter  XIII. 
Third  Year  of  the  War-'03 82 

Chapter  XIV. 
Fourth  Year  of  the  War 85 


IV 

Chapteb  XV. 
18G5. 
The  End  of  the  War— Uosettled  State  of  Society  and  Scarce- 
ness of  Provisions — School   Taught  at  York  Collegiate 
Institute — Two  Sons  in  the  War 86 

Chapter  XVI. 
1866. 
Traveling    and    Lecturing    and    Teaching    Classes — At    Snow 
Creek   Camp   Meeting   and    Sunday    School    Convention 
at  Rock    Spring 87 

Chapter  XVII. 
Classes   Taught  at   Catawba   Station — Three   Camp   Meetings 

Visited — A  Preaching  and  Visiting  Tour,  Etc 88 

Chapter  XVIII. 
Logic  Classes  Taught  at  Statesville — Classes  at  Olin  High 
School  and  in  Salisbury — Preached  in  Three  Different 
Places — Political  Excitement — Colored  Churches — Gram- 
mar Classes  Taught  in  Statesville — A  Visit  to  Major 
York's — Grammar  Classes  Taught  in  Chatham  and  W^ake 
— Ruffin  Badger  Institute 90 

Chapter  XIX. 
Ruffin  Badger  Institute — Educational  Association  Organized — 
Teachers'  Meeting  Formed — Elected  Professor  in  Ruth- 
erford College — Preparing  "Man  of  Business"  for  Pub- 
lication— Death  of  Fannie  S.  York — Organization  of 
Local  Ministers'  Conference 92 

Chapter  XX. 
Lecturing  Tour,  Visiting  Graham,  N.  C,  Sylvian  Academy, 
Mount  Vernon  Springs — Rutherford  College  Commence- 
ment— Class  Taught  at  Columbia  and  Franklinsville  Fac- 
tories— Assumes  the  Duties  of  Professorship  at  Ruth- 
erford  College    94 

Chapter  XXI. 
Begin  Labor  in  Rutherford  College  as  Professor  and  Agent — 
Teaching  Side  Classes — New  College  Building  Erected — 
Lecturing  in  College  on  Social  Law  and  Etiquette — Vis- 
iting Various  Camp  Meetings — Revival  Among  the  Stu- 
dents— Resignation  as  Professor  and  Agent 95 

Chapter  XXII. 
Leaving    for    Arkansas — Arrival— Disappointment — Lecturing 
and  Teaching  Classes  at  Russellville — At  Dardenville — 
At  Athens — Lewisburg — Conway — Lone  Oak — Arrival  at 
Home  97 


Chaptkr  XXIII. 
Teaching  and  Lecturing  at  Rutherford  College,  Hickory  and 
Morganton — An  Eastern  Tour — Sick  at  Newton — Lectur- 
ing and  I'reaching  at  Statesville — Mooresville — Sick  at 
Davidson  College — Preaching  in  Charlotte — At  Monroe, 
etc. — In  South  Carolina,  at  Benuettsville — Teaching 
Classes  at  Gilboa,  Pine  Grove,  Jerusalem — Eeturn  Home      102 

Chapter  XXIV. 
Teaching  Logic  and  Grammar  at  the  College — Reading  Proof- 
sheets  at  Mebauesville — Returning  Home — Teaching  at 
Mill  Grove — Visiting  Three  Camp  Meetings — Teaching 
and  Lecturing  at  Bethel — At  Home — Teaching  Logic  and 
Grammar — Returned  to  Bethel — Teaching  at  Mill  Grove, 
at  Mathews — Returned  Home 108 

Chapter  XXV. 
Lecturing  and  Preaching  Tour — Lecturing  and  Preaching  at 
Newton,  Catawba  Station — Statesville — ^Lexington,  Yad- 
kin College — At  Thomasville — Trinity  College — Ebenezer 
— Randlemau — Cedar  Falls — Frauklinsville —  Mebanes- 
ville — Durham.  Mooresville,  etc — 110 

Chapter  XXVI. 
A  Western  Tour — Preaching  and  Lecturing  at  Nebo — Marion 
— Old  Fort — Asheville — Resting  at  Hon.  R.  B.  Vance's — 
At    Turkey    Creek    Camp    and    District    Meeting — At 
Burnesville — Home 115 

Chapter  XVII. 
North    Carolina    Conference — Prohibition    Bill    Presented    to 

People — Lecturing  on  Prohibition,  etc 117 

Chapter  XXVIII. 
Opening  of  New  Salem  and  Randleman  High  School — Educa- 
tional Association — Moving  into  the  New  Building — The 
School  in  a  Flourishing  Condition — Resignation  of  the 
Principal,  Prof.  Rheim,  and  Prof.  York 121 

Chapter  XXIX. 
A  Tour  in  South  Carolina — Teaching  Classes,  Preaching  and 
Lecturing — Publishing      Common      School      Grammar — 
Thrown  from  a  Buggy,   Seriously  Hurt — Visiting  Chil- 
dren in  Wake,  Chatham  and  Orange  Counties 12G 

Chapter  XXX. 
Traveling     for     My     Plealth — Greensboro — Reidsville — Leaks- 

ville— Home ■ 12D 

Chapter  XXXI. 
Tour  to  the  Middle  of  the  State — Teaching  a  Grammar  Class 
at    Morrisville — Lecturing    and    Teaching    at    Various 


VI 


Places — Protracted  Meetings  130 


Chapter  XXXII. 
Prohibition   Convention   in   Greensboro — Mebanesville — Teach- 
ing at  Xew  Salem — Take  Charge  of  School  at  Fair  View 
— Lecturing  and  Preaching — Dobson  Circuit  and  Rocky 
Springs  Camp  Meeting 133 

Chapter  XXXIII. 
Golden   Wedding — Dobson   Circuit — Teaching,    Lecturing,   and 
Preaching — Brevard      Circuit — Preaching — Visiting      in 
Yancey  and  Buncombe — Visits  in  Stanley  County 136 


PREFACE 


In  1890  the  Trinity  College  Historical  Society  established 
an  Annual  Publication  of  Historical  Papers.  Eight  numbers 
have  been  issued,  consisting  of  discussions  before  the  Society 
and  letters  and  documents  which  have  come  into  its  posses- 
sion. The  growth  of  the  work  and  collections  of  the  organiza- 
tion has  suggested  a  new  venture — the  publication  of  me- 
moirs, autobiographies  and  monographs  in  book  form.  These 
will  not  supplant  the  Historical  Papers,  but  will  be  continu- 
ous with.,  the  publication  already  begun.  Consequently  the 
present  volume  is  presented  to  the  public.  It  will  be  fol- 
lowed in  1911  by  the  Memoirs  of  Governor  W.  W.  Holden, 
later  by  Dr.  E.  W.  Caruthers'  Evils  of  American  Slavery' 
and  monogTaphic  studies. 

The  editorial  difficulties  involved  in  preparing  Dr.  York's 
autobiogTaphy  for  the  press  have  been  peculiar.  He  began 
his  work  in  1876,  long  after  he  became  blind,  and  continued 
it  at  various  intervals  until  1888.  The  amanuenses  to  whom 
he  dictated  were  not  equally  qualified  for  their  task.  Some 
were  well  educated;  others  barely  knew  the  rudiments  of 
orthography.  Consequently,  as  the  manuscript  was  never 
revised,  there  is  no  uniformity  in  the  use  of  capitals  and 
punctuation  marks.  In  preparing  the  copy  for  the  printer, 
some  changes  were  found  to  be  not  only  feasible,  but  almost 
necessary.  But  the  aim  has  been  to  make  the  printed  page 
correspond  with  the  written.  Errors  in  orthography  should 
not  reflect  on  the  learning  of  Dr.  York;  rather  they  should 
give  an  impression  of  the  limitations  which  beset  him,  and 
illustrate  his  greatest  opportunity  for  service,  viz. ;  teaching 
his  fellow  men  the  elements  of  English  grammar. 

Professor  E.  C.  Brooks,  of  the  Department  of  Education, 
has  contributed  the  biographical  sketch  of  Dr.  York.  Dr. 
W.  T.  Laprade,  Assistant  Professor  of  History,  has  aided 
in  reading  the  proof.. 

Wm.  K.  Boyd. 

Trinity  College,  Durham,  I^T.  C,  May  1,  1910. 


INTRODUCTORY  SKETCH 


What  our  civilization  would  be  today  but  for  the  old  time 
preacher,  it  is  hard  to  say.  His  tremendous  faith  and  relig- 
ious zeal  may  have  filled  his  imagination  with  many  realities 
that  have  no  significance  for  the  cold,  practical,  calculating 
eye  of  today;  and  judged  by  the  standards  of  today  he  loses. 
But  in  pioneer  days  of  nearly  a  century  ago,  when  settle- 
ments were  isolated  and  remote  from  culture  and  commercial 
activities;  when  the  inbreeding  of  fatuous  ideas  was  turning 
civilization  back  toward  primitive  man;  when  postoffices, 
newspapers,  literature,  Sunday-schools  and  secular  schools 
were  unknown  to  vast  wild  areas;  when  Christianity  was 
graded  little  higher  than  the  animism  of  the  Eed-man,  the 
old  time  preacher  was  the  one,  and  about  the  only,  apostle  of 
enlightenment  that  the  back  districts  heard,  and  his  ever- 
lasting influence  is  felt.  ^Yherever  he  went  he  preached 
a  burning  gospel,  and  the  household  gods  of  these  hardy 
woodmen  beamed  with  a  simple  truth.  Wherever  he  hitched 
his  horse  and  threw  down  his  saddle-bags,  he  found  a  wel- 
comed resting  place,  and  the  neighbors  would  follow  a  trail 
for  miles  leading  to  his  abode,  and  sit  the  long  night  by  the 
gi-eat  oi^en  fire  listening  to  the  stories  of  the  world  beyond. 
Politics  and  commerce,  men  and  measures,  were  his  theme; 
and  before  tie  night  grew  still  he  would  draw  forth  his  Xew 
Testament  and  explain  to  the  simple  woodmen  the  still  more 
simple  plan  of  salvation.  Such  were  his  methods,  and  his 
coming  and  going,  events  of  state  importance,  wove  into  their 
primitive  lives  some  of  the  culture  and  the  hope  of  the  race 
until  they  became  a  part  of  the  warp  and  woof  of  humanity. 

What  our  civilization  would  be  today  but  for  the  coming 
of  the  old  time  preacher,  it  is  hard  to  say,  but  a  picture  of 
neglected  and  forgotten  humanity  can  be  imagined. 

One  of  these  apostles  of  enlightenment  was  the  Reverend 
Brantley  York,  the  blind  teacher  and  preacher,  whose  auto- 
biogTaphy  tells  of  the  labors  of  a  century  almost,  and  pictures 
the  backwoodsman  in  his  daily  routine.     The  social,  moral, 


X  Introductory. 

religious  and  industrial  life  is  given  as  the  author  tells  the 
story  of  his  own  life  from  infancy  to  past  his  fourscore  years. 

The  York  family,  natives  of  Yorkshire,  England,  came 
to  America  during  the  first  half  of  the  Eighteenth  Century, 
and  located  in  what  is  now  Randolph  County,  where  Brantley 
York  was  born.  His  grandfather  and  gTandmother  in  their 
youth  came  over  together  in  the  same  vessel,  and  shortly 
afterwards  married.  Eli  York,  the  father  of  Brantley  York, 
was  only  a  lad  in  his  teens  when  Cornwallis  made  his  head- 
quarters at  Salem.  He  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  the  Ameri- 
can camp,  carrying  clothes  and  rations  to  his  brothers.  He 
had  started  on  such  an  errand  when  he  heard  the  guns  at  the 
battle  of  Guilford  Court  House.  Meeting  the  wounded  and 
the  stragglers  fleeing  from  the  battle,  and  being  frightened  by 
the  reports  brought  from  the  army,  the  lad  turned  back,  carry- 
ing his  supplies  with  him. 

Eli  York  became  a  miner,  and  he  was  something  of  a  rude 
chemist  in  those  days.  In  the  Second  "War  of  Independence, 
1812-15,  he  was  employed  by  the  U.  S.  Government  to  manu- 
facture gunpowder.  Brantley,  then  a  small  lad,  went  with 
the  laborers  who  traversed  Randolph  and  Guilford  counties 
raking  dirt  from  under  tobacco  barns,  from  which  saltpetre 
was  obtained ;  and  many  a  day,  with  a  home-made  knife,  he 
cut  the  gourds  in  which  the  powder  was  stored,  then  trans- 
ferred by  the  wagon-load  to  the  army  magazine. 

The  York  home  was  located  on  Bush  Creek,  in  Randolph 
County.  Here  Brantley  York,  the  seventh  son,  was  born 
January  3,  1805.  From  his  father  he  inherited  his  mining 
propensities,  and  in  early  life  was  connected  with  several 
mining  ventures,  none  of  which  turned  out  profitably. 

In  those  days  educational  facilities  were  very  poor.  Many 
communities  knew  not  the  school,  and  many  a  child  never 
saw  a  schoolmaster.  Young  Brantley,  however,  more  fortu- 
nate, entered  school  at  four  years  of  age,  to  be  frightened  out 
of  his  wits  by  an  old  master  who  kept  thrashing  the  floor  to 
terrify  the  young.  Master  Short  passed  into  his  life  a  few 
years  later,  and  his  only  contract  bound  him  to  abstain  from 
drinking  during  school  hours,  yet  he  was  not  forbidden  to 
sleep  away  in  the  schoolroom  the  fumes  of  a  midnight  de- 


I^'TK0DucT0In^  xi 

baiieb ;  for  blaster  Short  was  a  confiniicd  drunkard.  At  eight 
years  of  age  young  Hrantlev  did  })ass  under  the  touch  of  a 
real  schoolmaster,  and  he  was  taught  ''to  spell  in  five  sylla- 
bles," and  at  the  end  of  one  term  he  "acted  a  part  of  a  dia- 
logue." When  he  was  able  to  read  the  Nbav  Testament  he 
was  put  in  writing,  ''for  in  those  days  no  one  thought  of  put- 
ting one  in  writing  till  he  could  read  the  'Nev7  Testament." 

At  thirteen  his  school  days  ended.  His  father  having  lost 
all  his  property  Brantley  was  ''hired  out."  The  family 
moved  aknit  from  place  to  place,  and  finally  the  lad  found 
a  home  near  the  old  location  of  Trinity  College  in  Ran- 
dolph County.  He  received  here  not  only  employment,  but 
kindness  and  encouragement. 

In  those  days  every  man  who  owmed  his  land  had  his  whis- 
key still.  Even  at  the  early  age  of  five  young  Brantley 
knew  the  ways  of  the  still.  He  played  with  the  beverage  as  it 
dropped  from  the  worm,  and  more  than  once  did  he  feel  its 
influence  in  his  boyhood  days.  Both  preacher  and  layman  took 
their  morning  drams,  and  the  alphabet  hardly  contained  let- 
ters arrang-ed  sutticieutly  to  spell  Temperance  Society. 

Many  of  those  back  settlements  were  in  almost  total  ignor- 
ance of  the  God  of  the  Xew  Testament.  Demon  worship, 
with  its  chief  attribute,  witchcraft,  held  the  spiritual  life  in 
mortal  terror.  Goblins  and  hobgoblins,  ghosts  and  spooks, 
visible  only  to  the  hypersensitive,  and  audible  everywhere  to 
the  terrified,  brought  back  to  earth  a  hybrid  animism,  show- 
ing faint  traces  of  a  more  cheerful  Christianity.  Their 
agents  in  the  flesh  were  the  fortune-teller  and  the  conjure- 
doctor.  Young  Brantley,  being  an  emotional  and  excitable 
lad  was  dragged  before  these  important  high-priests  of  super- 
stition ;  and  he  heard  the  predictions  from  Old  Bass,  famous 
in  the  occult  sciences:  "He  will  end  his  igniominious  career 
on  the  gallow^s ;"  and  he  was  frequently  reminded  in  his 
younger  days  that  "Old  Bass'  predictions  are  coming  true." 

When  Young  Brantley  was  not  yet  a  man,  Randolph 
County  was  a  part  of  the  Deep  River  Circuit  of  the  South 
Carolina  Conference.  This  w'ill  give  one  some  idea  of  the 
labors  of  the  old  time  circuit  rider  and  the  frequency  of  his 
visits.     The  first  Methodist  minister  to  visit  the  neiffhbor- 


xii  IXTKODUCTOEY. 

hood  of  the  Yorks  was  Christeiiberg.  Although  the  Yorks 
were  Primitive  Baptists,  the  coming  of  Christeiiberg  and  the 
era  of  revivals  and  camp-meetings  produced  many  changes. 
Ebenezer  Church,  near  Old  Trinity,  was  established.  Soon 
Young  Brantley  was  converted.  Here  a  library  society  was 
organized.  Into  this  went  Young  Brantley's  spare  earnings ; 
and  through  it  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  education  and 
ministerial  career. 

Although  a  hired  boy,  working  here  and  there,  the  little 
library  at  Ebenezer  Church  gave  him  an  opportunity.  After 
the  day's  work,  he  read  and  studied  by  the  light  of  pine  knots. 
He  soon  mastered  arithmetic  and  became  a  neighborhood 
celebrity.  He  wrote  a  beautiful  hand,  an  accomplishment 
which  excited  the  admiration  of  youth  and  old  age  in  the 
community. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  was  converted  at  a  camp-meet- 
ing at  Ebenezer  Church,  and  in  1831,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six,  he  was  licensed  to  preach.  He  was  twenty-four  years  old 
and  married,  when  he  saw  his  first  English  gi-ammar ;  and  he 
immediately  set  to  work  to  master  it.  So  he  did  with  Latin, 
Greek,  the  higher  mathematics,  natural  philosophy,  logic 
and  rhetoric.  The  year  he  was  licensed  to  preach  he  began 
teaching.  Within  a  few  years  his  fame  as  a  teacher  had  risen 
and  he  was  known  as  one  who  could  teach  geometry,  trigo- 
nometry, surveying,  Csesar,  Virgil,  and  could  read  the  Xew 
Testament  in  Greek. 

It  seems  that  blindness  was  hereditary  in  the  family.  His 
only  recollection  of  his  grandfather  was  a  picture  of  the  old 
gentleman  in  total  blindness,  and  "I  remember  standing  be- 
tween his  knees  while  he  passed  his  hands  over  my  face  and 
head."  Although  he  had  barely  reached  middle  life  when  he 
likewise  lost  his  sight,  yet  the  best  part  of  his  life  was  worked 
out  in  almost  total  darkness. 

This  blind  preacher-teacher  was  a  unique  figure.  His  very 
active  career  stretched  almost  across  the  Nineteenth  Century, 
and  there  is  hardly  a  county  in  the  State  that  did  not  at  some 
time  furnish  him  a  congregation  or  a  school.  He  was  always 
active.    Sometimes  alone,  sometimes  with  his  wife,  sometimes 


Introductory.  xiii 

with  (lano-hter  or  son,  he  traveled  the  State  and  preached  with 
earnestness  and  power  the  duty  of  parents  both  in  religion 
and  in  education. 

For  more  than  fifty  years  he  taught  and  preached.  The 
story  of  those  camp-meeting  days  has  gone  into  history.  Tre- 
mendous waves  of  religious  fervor,  midnight  sermons,  wrest- 
ling all  night  with  the  forces  of  evil,  going  days  without  food 
■ — these  are  deeds  that  belong  to  the  pioneer  days  of  church 
history ;  and  it  is  this  history  that  Brantley  York  has  recorded 
in  his  AutobiogTaphy, 

In  education  he  was  a  real  circuit  rider.  It  is  probable 
that  Brantley  York  organized  more  schools  than  any  other 
man  in  America.  In  the  villages  and  in  the  backwoods,  in 
log  cabins  and  in  churches,  in  parlors  and  in  hotels,  in  farms 
and  under  clear  skies,  he  organized  his  grammar  classes. 
From  Morehead  City  to  Asheville,  from  Columbia,  S.  C,  to 
Danville,  Va.,  in  Tennessee  and  Arkansas,  he  taught  youth 
and  old  age  the  principles  of  the  mother  tongue.  He  wrote 
his  own  books  and  published  them  at  his  own  expense;  and 
wherever  a  congregation  could  be  formed  he  was  either 
preaching  the  gospel  or  teaching  York's  grammar.  And 
these  things  he  w^as  doing  in  his  eighty-sixth  year,  when 
the  order  came  to  rest. 

When  a  young  man  he  resolved  to  end  the  drink  habit, 
M^hich  had  almost  claimed  him  as  a  victim,  and  long  before 
the  Civil  War  he  was  organizing  temperance  societies  and 
lecturing  on  the  evils  of  strong  drink;  and  in  1881  in  his 
TGth  year,  ^vhen  the  State  first  moved  toward  prohibition,  he 
lectured  in  almost  every  county. 

Brantley  York  worked  in  his  own  way.  He  never  joined 
the  conference,  but  always  styled  himself  a  local  preacher. 
He  organized  many  academies,  but  he  never  worked  in  any 
organization  long.  Union  Institute,  which  he  organized,  be- 
came Trinity  College,  but  it  was  his  successor  that  saw  the 
college  gTOW  out  of  the  high  school.  Here  he  lost  the  sight  of 
one  eye. 

Clemmonsville  High  School,  in  Davidson  County,  had 
gi'eat  prosperity  under  his  management.  He  formed  Olin 
High  School  and  here  he  lost  his  other  eye;  later  he  became 


xiv  I^'TRODUCTOEY. 

principal  of  York  Collegiate  Institute ;  in  1869  he  was  elected 
principal  of  Euffin-Badger  Institute,  where  he  labored  with 
much  success  until  he  was  called  to  Rutherford  College  as 
professor  of  logic  and  rhetoric.  In  1881  he,  with  his  son, 
Rev.  B.  A.  York,  formed  Isew  Salem  and  Randleman  High 
School,  in  Randolph  County,  and  after  teaching  there  with 
his  son  for  four  years,  he  left  the  teaching  profession,  never 
to  return  to  it  again.  His  career  as  author  of  text-books  is 
told  in  Chapter  XI  of  the  Autobiography.  After  his  death, 
an  edition  of  the  High  School  Grammar  was  published,  in 
1S94,  by  Dr.  L.  Branson,  of  Xorth  Carolina,  and  by  Prof. 
F.  P.  Julian  of  Peoria,  111.,  who  now  owns  the  copyright  to 
his  books. 

For  more  than  seventy  years  he  was  a  teacher  and  preacher. 
He  had  under  his  tuition  more  than  15,000  pupils ;  and  he 
himself  estimated  that  he  had  preached  and  lectured  more 
than  8,000  times.  At  no  time  was  he  idle.  Even  the  last  six 
weeks  of  his  life  he  preached  more  than  a  dozen  times,  aiding 
his  son  Rev.  B.  A.  York  in  a  revival  on  the  Forest  City  Cir- 
cuit; and  on  October  7,  1891,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
the  order  came  for  him  to  rest. 

Rutherford  College,  the  institution  at  which  he  labored, 
conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  His 
appreciative  students,  numbering  many  thousands,  erected  a 
beautiful  monument  over  his  grave  at  York  Institute,  where 
he  was  buried. 

Xo  gTeater  evidence  can  we  have  of  a  man's  great  sincerity 
than  this,  that  the  children  choose  the  father's  profession  and 
labor  with  the  same  zeal  and  earnestness.  I  have  before  me 
a  newspaper  clipping  of  much  leng:th,  telling  of  a  service 
where  the  father  and  two  sons  occupied  the  pulpit  the  same 
day,  one  in  the  morning,  the  other  in  the  afternoon,  and  the 
father  at  night.  We  have  no  finer  picture  of  devotion  to  duty 
than  the  blind  father  led  about  by  his  son,  both  preaching  the 
gospel,  or  teaching  the  youth  of  the  land. 

Dr.  Brantley  York  was  a  man  of  very  fine  appearance.  He 
was  six  feet  two  inches  tall,  of  blue  eyes  and  fair  skin,  very 
erect,  and  weighed  about  200  pounds.  He  was  a  man  of  in- 
domitable will,  but  considerate  and  kind.    He  was  twice  mar- 


Introductory.  xv 

ried.  His  first  wife  was  Raeliol  Sherwood,  of  Guilford 
Couuty,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  Both  of  these  are 
dead.  Mary  W.  Liiieberry,  of  Randolph  County  was  his 
second  wife.  She  is  still  living  and  is  in  her  ninety-first  year. 
By  her  he  had  eleven  children.  Of  these  six  are  dead  and 
seven  are  living. 

The  seven  surviving  children  are  thus  located :  Mrs.  Jen- 
nie Rheim,  of  Butte,  Montana.  Her  husband,  Capt.  J.  E. 
Rheim  was  a  professor  in  Weaverville  College  ten  years. 
Here  he  died.  Rev.  D.  V.  York,  D.  D.,  is  a  member  of  the 
Holston  Conference;  Rev.  B.  A.  York,  A.  M.,  is  a  member 
of  the  ^Yestern  North  Carolina  Conference.  W.  B.  York  is 
a  lawyer,  teacher  and  farmer,  and  lives  at  Mebane,  X.  C. ; 
X.  D.  York  is  a  practicing  physician  at  Mebane ;  W.  C.  York 
is  a  farmer,  and  lives  at  Taylorsville,  X.  C. ;  Mrs.  Xora 
Clontz,  wife  of  W.  J.  Clontz,  M.  D.,  lives  at  Alexander,  Bun- 
combe County,  X.  C. 

The  following  sons  and  daughters  are  dead:  Maj.  Richard 
W.  York,  a  practicing  attorney  of  Chatham  County ;  Fannie 
S.  York;  Rachel  L.  York,  wife  of  T.  F.  EUiotte;  Lueretia 
York  and  Amos  W.  York. 

Hundreds  of  people  are  living  today  who  remember  most 
affectionately  the  blind  preacher-teacher  who  tells  here  the 
story  of  his  own  life.  Many  hundreds  more  are  living  who 
have  been  influenced  by  the  children  of  the  blind  preacher- 
teacher,  and  can  testify  feelingly  that  their  works  do  fol- 
low them. 

E.  C.  Brooks. 

Trinity  College,  Durham,  X.  C. 


L5KANTLEY    YoKK 


THE  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  BRANTLEY  YORK 


CHAPTER  I. 
Birth — Extraokdinaky  Sxow — Parentage — Family. 

I  was  hovu  in  Iiaii(l(.l])Ii  County,  X.  C.  January  3,  1805, 
on  a  small  stream  called  linsh  Crock,  some  six  miles  north  of 
Franklinsville.  At  that  time  one  of  the  deepest  snows  ever 
known  in  that  section  of  the  state  had  fallen  some  two  weeks 
previous  to  my  birth,  its  average  depth  being  about  thirty-six 
inches. 

I  was  the  son  of  Eli  and  Susanna  York  the  seventh  of  nine 
children ;  of  these  five  were  males,  viz,  Harden,  Hiram, 
William,  Brantley  and  John  Wesley  and  four  females,  Pol- 
ly (Mary),  Hannah,  Sallie  and  Jemima.  Two  of  the  broth- 
ers Harden  and  Hiram  are  dead.  Harden,  the  oldest  brother, 
died  in  the  State  of  Indiana  some  thirty-four  or  thirty-five 
years  ago.  Hiram  died  in  the  eastern  portion  of  this  state 
since  the  war.  The  circumstances  of  his  death  [are]  not 
known. 

One  Sister,  Sallie  (Mrs.  Aydlott)  died  in  Guilford  County 
some  twelve  years  since.  Her  husband,  Benjamin  Aydlott 
survived  her  but  a  short  time.  Polly  (Mrs.  Coltrane)  the 
oldest  child,  is  still  living,  being  about  eighty-three  years  of 
age.  :\ry  sister  Hannah  (Mrs.  Bond)  removed  to  the  State 
of  Missouri  nearly  forty  years  ago;  whether  living  or  dead  is 
to  me  unknown,  but  I  have  learned  that  her  husband,  Mr. 
John  Bond  is  dead.  My  youngest  Sister,  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  Mrs.  Jemima  ]\IendenhalI  since  the  War  re- 
moved to  the  State  of  Indiana.  When  heard  from  last  she 
was  living. 

I  was  named  for  a  Baptist  preacher, — the  Rev.  William 
Brantley,  of  Chatham  County,  subsequently  Doctor  (D.  D.) 
of  Charleston,  S.  C. 

My  parents,  either  before  or  soon  after  I  was  born,  heard 
the  Rev.  W.  Brantley  preach  at  a  church  called  Millstone  in 


2  Autobiography  of  Erantley  York. 

Randolph  County,  and  were  so  well  pleased  with  him  as  a 
man  and  as  a  preacher  that  they  gave  me  his  family  name 
(Brantley)  and  I  should  have  received  the  other  but  from  the 
fact  that  I  had  an  older  brother  named  William. 


CHAPTEE  II. 

Ancestry. 

According  to  tradition,  many  years  ago  a  man  by  the  name 
of  York  came  from  Yorkshire,  England,  and  settled  in  this 
State  on  Sandy  Creek  and  from  this  man  the  numerous  fam- 
ily of  the  Yorks  originated,  and  are  now  scattered  throughout 
many  of  the  states  of  the  Union.  My  Grandfather,  Henry 
York,  lived  and  died  on  Sandy  Creek  (Randolph  County). 
He  was  blind, — totally  blind  for  several  years  before  his 
death.  I  have  only  a  faint  recollection  of  him,  and  about  the 
only  thing  recollected  is  that  when  very  small  I  remember 
standing  between  his  knees  while  he  passed  his  hands  over 
my  face  and  head,  it  being  the  only  means  by  which  he  could 
form  any  idea  of  me,  as  he  was  then  blind.  My  father  had 
several  brothers,  the  most  of  whom  were  older  than  himself. 
I  believe  he  was  the  youngest  of  the  first  set  of  children ;  for 
his  father  was  married  twice;  and  I  recollect  having  seen 
one  only  of  the  last  children.  But  I  have  a  clear  recollection 
of  having  seen  three  of  my  paternal  uncles  viz,  Samuel, 
William  and  Edmund.  My  father  had  some  Sisters,  but  I 
have  no  recollection  of  any  but  one,  viz.,  Mrs.  Mollie  Ruth. 
Many  of  her  offspring  are  still  living  on  Sandy  Creek,  Ran- 
dolph County.  But  the  whole  family  brothers  and  Sisters  of 
my  father,  have  long  since  passed  away.  My  father  died  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four.  And  he,  as  well  as  my 
mother  reposes  in  the  graveyard  of  Ebenezer  Church,  Ran- 
doljjh  County. 

My  father,  perhaps  before  I  was  born,  united  himself  with 
the  (Primitive)  Baptist  denomination.  He  held  his  member- 
ship at  Sandy  Creek  Church — one  of  the  oldest  Baptist 
churches  in  the  State.     But  after  he  removed  from  that  sec- 


AUTOBIOGRAPUY  OF  BrANTLEY  YokK.  3 

tion  of  the  State,  he  never  attached  himself  to  any  other 
church,  and  was  for  several  years  in  a  back-slidden  state; 
but  some  twenty  or  twenty-five  years  previous  to  his  death, 
he  joined  the  Temperance  Society,  and  not  long  after  was 
reclaimed,  and  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  his  earthly  career, 
he  lived  a  pious  and  devoted  christian,  and  died  in  the 
triumphs  of  the  Gospel  faith. 

j\ly  mother's  family  name  was  Harden.  She  was  born  in 
the  State  of  Virginia,  county  not  recollected,  and  when  about 
fourteen  years  of  age,  her  father  removed  from  Virginia  to 
Xorth  Carolina  and  settled  on  Sandy  Creek,  Randolph 
County. 

My  maternal  Grandfather  Mark  Harden  died  before  my 
recollection ;  but  his  widow  Hannah  Harden  my  maternal 
grandmother  survived  him  several  years ;  of  her  I  have  a  dis- 
tinct recollection,  though  she  died  when  I  was  a  small  boy. 
Of  the  religious  predilections  of  my  maternal  Grandparents 
I  know  nothing.  My  Grandmother's  family  name  was  Hol- 
der, if  I  am  not  mistaken.  They  left  behind  them  several 
children,  all  of  w^hom  were  daughters  except  one.  Of  these 
my  mother  was  the  oldest,  and  my  maternal  Uncle  Mark 
Harden,  junior,  w^as  the  youngest. 

I  have  a  distinct  recollection  of  three  of  my  maternal 
Aunts;  viz,  Mrs.  Polly  Warren,  Anna  Holder,  and  Lettie 
Roache.  All  of  these  have  passed  away  except  Mrs.  Holder. 
She,  when  last  heard  from,  was  living,  and  I  suppose  can- 
not be  much  less  than  one  hundred  years  old. 

My  mother  died  in  1846,  and  was  buried  as  has  already 
been  mentioned  in  the  graveyard  at  Ebenezer  church.  She 
never  attached  herslf  to  any  church,  but  was  inclined  most 
strongly  toward  the  M.  E.  church.  I  have,  however,  good 
reasons  for  believing  that  for  many  years  before  her  death 
she  was  a  christian.  Her  walk  was  exemplary,  and  no  one, 
perhaps,  appreciated  preaching  more  than  she.  She  died  as 
was  supposed  from  the  effects  of  paralysis,  consequently,  she 
said  very  little  during  her  illness,  but  manifested  a  strong 
desire  to  see  me  before  she  died,  but  of  this  favor  she  was 
denied;  for  I  was  away  from  home  when  the  news  of  her 


4  Autobiography  of  Bkantley  York. 

illness  arrived,  and  ^vhen  I  reached  mj  father's,  she  had  been 
buried  some  two  days. 

^ly  Uncle,  ]\[ark  Harden,  was  a  member  of  the  M.  P. 
Church  for  several  years  before  his  decease.  His  first  wife 
(for  he  was  married  twice)  Sarah  York  was  a  cousin  of 
mine,  the  daughter  of  William  York.  She  also  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  same  church  of  her  husband  and  died  some  eight 
or  ten  years  before  her  husband.  His  second  wife,  of  whom 
I  know  but  little,  is  still  livinc;. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Boyhood — Eaely^   Education — Religious   Impressions — 

Ignorance  and  Superstitions  of  the  Bush  Creek 

Neighborhood, 

Tw^elve  years  of  my  boyhood  were  spent  at  the  old  home- 
stead on  Bush  Creek.  Like  other  boys,  I  was  fond  of  sport. 
During  the  warm  season  I  spent  much  time  fishing  with  the 
bow  and  arrow,  and  dunng  the  cold  season,  trapping  for 
birds. 

For  several  years,  I  was  much  afflicted  with  erysipelas, 
then  called  St.  Anthony's  lire.  The  principal  remedy  re- 
sorted to  was  blood-letting.  This,  in  my  case,  was  so  fre- 
quently resorted  to  that  the  very  thought  to  my  mind  was 
horrifying;  nor  have  I  ever  been  entirely  free  from  this 
feeling;  for,  while  I  have  no  great  dred  [sic]  of  suffering 
pain,  yet  the  use  of  any  surgical  instrument  is  still  the  object 
of  much  dread. 

AVhen  about  five  or  six  years  old,  an  incident  occurred 
which  came  very  near  terminating  my  life.  My  mother  sent 
an  older  brother  and  me  to  call  my  father  to  breakfast.  When 
we  reached  the  Still-house,  he  was  just  starting  what  is  called 
a  ''doubling"  and  could  not  leave.  In  the  meantime  I  got 
behind  the  worm-tub  and  by  the  use  of  a  spoon  I  found 
between  the  hoop  and  stave,  I  commenced  catching  the  liquor, 
as  it  issued  from  the  worm  and  drinking  it ;  for  I  loved  the 
taste  of  it,  nor  have  I  any  recollection  of  any  time  previous 


AUTOBIOGKAI'JIV    OF    BkA.NTI.EV    YoUK.  5 

to  this  M'licn  I  did  not ;  im-  I  su])pose  I  was  like  other  babies, 
dreiit'hed  with  it  by  moans  of  a  teas]ioon.  As  soon  as  discov- 
ered by  my  father,  both  brotht-r  and  I  were  sent  h(mu',  the 
distance  being'  some  three  or  four  hundred  yards.  Well  did 
the  wise  man  say,  "Wine  is  a  mocker,"  for  it  made  me  believe 
I  was  what  I  was  not,  and  that  I  conld  do  what  1  could  not; 
for,  notwithstanding  1  was  very  feeble,  yet  I  believed  I  could 
pull  up  any  tree  in  the  forest  by  the  root,  and  so  foolish  was 
I  that  I  actually  tried  it.  After  much  stumbling  and  falling, 
I  finally  reached  within  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  yards  of 
home,  and  there  I  fell,  and  from  that  time  till  the  morning 
of  the  next  day,  1  was  as  unconscious  of  everything  aroinid 
me  as  if  I  had  been  dead. 

If  mothers  were  aware  of  the  danger  of  such  a  habit  when 
formed,  th(>y  would  be  extremely  cautious  in  either  giving 
their  children  ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage  or  a  medicine;  for, 
l)erhaps  in  every  case  of  this  kind,  the  remedy  is  worse  than 
the  disease. 

At  this  time  (1876)  it  may  be  thought  strange  that  any 
member  of  the  church  should  follow  the  distillation  of  ardent 
spirits  as  a  livelyhood  (sic)  but  the  view  entertained  by  even 
good  people  at  the  time  of  which  I  speak,  were  very  different ; 
for  no  one  supposed  it  was  wrong  either  to  make  or  drink 
ardent  spirits  moderately ;  drunkenness  only  was  regarded  as 
a  sin  even  by  ministers. 

Education  during  my  boyhood  was  at  an  extremely  low 
ebb,  there  being  but  very  few  schools,  and  they  of  a  very  low 
grade.  The  first  school  I  attended  I  w^as  only  about  four 
years  old,  and  went  only  one  day.  I  went  not  so  much  to 
learn  as  to  be  with  a  favorite  sister  who  had  been  my  nurse. 
The  schoolmaster  (as  teachers  were  then  called)  was  a  very 
large,  sour-looking  man,  and  seemed  to  appreciate  very  highly 
the  dignity  of  his  position.  And  the  instruments  of  punish- 
ment lay  thick  around  him,  in  the  form  of  switches  and 
small  paddles  called  ferrules,  and  among  the  switches  was 
a  very  large  and  long  one,  kept  for  the  purpose  of  thrashing 
the  floor  in  order  to  frighten  the  urchins,  and  keep  them  in 
awe  of  his  authority.  But  one  was  allowed  to  go  out  at  a 
time,  and  in  order  to  prevent  the  violation  of  this  rtilc,   a 


6       Autobiography  of  Braxtley  York. 

little  hooked  stick  suspended  to  a  pe-g  or  nail  driven  in  the 
door-facing,  must  be  taken  by  each  one  going  out  and  when 
the  stick  was  absent  no  one  dared  go  out.  ISTot  infrequently 
confusion  arose  among  the  scholars  by  a  race  for  the  crooked 
stick;  then,  to  restore  order,  the  long  hickory  was  brought 
down  with  great  force  on  the  floor,  accompanied  with  a  stamp 
of  the  foot,  and  a  loud,  husty  burst  of  the  voice.  By  this 
means  order  for  a  while  was  restored.  Sometimes  during 
the  day  my  sister  succeeded  in  getting  the  stick,  and  I  started 
to  follow  her ;  then  came  the  thrash,  the  stamp  and  the 
squall  which  so  much  frightened  me  that  I  knew  not  what  to 
do — whether  to  go  out  or  return  to  my  seat — in  fact  I  knew 
not  what  he  wanted.  That  was  the  first  and  last  day  of  my 
going  to  school  to  this  pedagogue ;  nor  was  the  effect  for  years 
erased  from  my  mind,  for  every  time  I  saw  him  (which  was 
frequently)  a  similar  emotion  was  felt,  mixed  how^ever  with 
hatred  for  his  person. 

I  was  about  six  years  old  before  I  was  sent  to  school  again. 
The  teacher  was  a  very  different  character  from  the  former ; 
he  was  clever,  kind  and  indulgent,  and  the  scholars  loved  him 
as  a  father.  When  I  went  to  say  my  lesson  he  would  take  me 
upon  his  knees,  and  speak  very  kindly  to  me,  and  when  I 
succeeded  in  saying  a  good  lesson  he  never  failed  to  praise 
and  encourage  me.  The  school,  however,  was  of  short  dura- 
tion; but  during  the  time  I  learned  to  spell  in  five  syllables 
and  was  exceedingly  sorry  when  the  school  closed,  for  I 
loved  my  book  and  was  strongly  attached  to  my  teacher. 

About  two  years  rolled  away  before  another  opportunity 
was  offered  for  me  to  go  to  school.  I  was  then  entered  as  a 
scholar  to  a  six  months'  school  taught  by  a  Mr.  Patterson. 
He  was  also  a  man  of  easy  manners,  pleasant  and  agi-eeable 
as  a  teacher.  But  during  the  interim  I  had  even  forgotten  my 
letters;  consequently  had  to  learn  them  a  second  time.  But 
during  the  term,  I  not  only  learned  to  spell  tolerably  well, 
but  also  to  read  tolerably  fluently  for  a  boy  eight  years  old, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  term,  I  acted  a  part  of  a  dialogue. 
The  teacher  was  popular,  and  at  the  close  another  six  months 
school  was  made,  and  I  was  again  subscribed  as  a  scholar, 
and  at  the  opening  of  the  school  I  commenced  writing;  for  in 


AuTORlOGRArilY    OF    ErANTLEY    YoRK.  7 

those  davs  no  ouo  thoni^ht  of  putting  one  to  writing  till  he 
could  read  the  ^^ew  Testament.  Much  attention  was  paid 
during  this  teacher's  administration  to  spelling  "by  heart" 
as  it  was  termed.  I  took  much  pleasure  in  this  exercise,  and 
sucessfullj  contended  with  the  best  spellers  for  the  head  of 
the  class.  I  was  accustomed  to  commit  the  spelling  lesson  to 
memory  while  going  from  and  to  school ;  consequently  I  sel- 
dom missed  a  word.  After  the  second  Session  had  been  in 
operation  about  two  weeks,  the  schoolhouse  was  unfortunately 
burnt  do\\ai.  And  thus  ended  my  schooldays  duKing  the  time 
that  my  father  lived  at  the  old  homestead  on  Bush  Creek. 

I  was  at  quite  a  tender  age  impressed  with  the  necessity 
of  religion ;  and  a  lasting  impression  was  made  on  my  mind 
that  I  was  destined  ultimately  to  be  a  preacher ;  consequently 
my  thoughts  were  not  infrequently  turned  to  this  subject 
when  perhaps  not  more  than  seven  or  eight  years  old.  The 
first  praching  which  I  recollect  of  hearing  was  in  my  father's 
house ;  for  the  Baptist  Preachers  in  going  to  their  appoint- 
ments at  Sandy  Creek,  would  preach  at  night  at  my  fathers. 
The  name  of  one  only  is  recollected,  George  Pope.  In  the 
meantime  a  new  Methodist  church,  a  log  building,  calbd 
Cool  Spring,  was  built  by  the  neighbors,  and  was  taken  into 
wKat  was  then  kno^^^l  as  the  Deep  river  circuit  of  the  South 
Carolina  Conference.  This  church  was  about  three  miles 
from  my  father's.  The  first  Methodist  preacher  whom  I 
recollect  hearing  was  Christenberry,  who  was  in  charge  of  the 
circuit,  and  was  then  called  the  circuit-rider.  His  preaching 
made  a  strong  impression  on  my  mind,  and  during  his  admin- 
istration a  revival  of  religion  broke  out  in  that  church,  dur- 
ing which  my  oldest  brother  Harden  and  two  of  my  sisters 
Hannah  and  Sallie  joined  the  church  and  were  baptised  by 
immersion. 

Considering  the  character  of  the  schools  of  Bush  Creek, 
the  inference  would  naturally  follow  that  the  people  were 
ignorant.  There  were  few  or  no  educated  persons  in  that 
community,  and  not  only  were  they  ignorant,  but  exceedingly 
superstitious.  Superstition  has  frequently  been  termed  the 
twin  sister  of  ignorance,  but  I  am  strongly  inclined  to  think 
that  she  is  rather  the  daughter  than  the  sister.     There  may 


8       Autobiography  of  Braxtley  York. 

be  ignorant  persons  not  superstitions,  bnt  the  superstitious 
are  almost  invariably  ignorant. 

The  people  of  this  neighborhood  believed  in  Witeheraft, 
Ghost-seeing,  haunted  houses  and  fortune-telling.  They  at- 
tributed wonderful,  if  not  supernatural  powers,  to  the  crea 
tures  of  their  imaginations — witches.  Thev  believed  that  a 
witch  could  transform  herself  into  any  animal  she  chose, 
whether  beast  or  bird.  They  also  attributed  to  a  witch  the 
power  to  creep  through  a  key-hole,  by  the  magic  of  a  certain 
bridle  called  the  witch's  bridle — she  could  change  any  person 
on  whom  she  could  place  it,  into  a  horse ;  and  then  what  is 
still  more  remarkable,  both  could  come  out  through  a  key-hole, 
and,  being  mounted,  she  could  ride  this  remarkable  horse 
wherever  she  chose,  nor  would  such  an  animal  assume  its 
identity  till  the  bridle  was  removed. 

From  this  superstitious  belief  in  witches  arose  a  class  of 
impostors,  called  witch-doctors.  They  made  the  people  l>e- 
lieve  by  certain  mysterious  operations,  that  they  could  break 
the  witchcraft  and  thus  relieve  these  unfortunate  ones  from 
the  influence  of  the  much  dreaded  witch;  and,  in  order 
to  be  sure  of  their  pay  for  these  machinations,  they  pretended 
they  could  do  nothing  without  first  being  paid  a  certain 
amount  of  silver. 

The  people  also  believed  that  a  witch  or  wizard  was  proof 
against  leaden  balls  shot  from  a  rifle ;  but  could  not  stand 
before  a  silver  bullet.  They  believed  moreover  that  these 
witches  could  put  spells  on  guns,  so  that  the  object  aimed  at 
could  never  be  hit  while  such  spells  remained  unbroken ;  but 
for  all  these  evils  they  had  some  remedy,  for  they  believed 
that  there  were  some  persons  among  them  who  possessed  the 
peculiar  art  of  breaking  these  spells. 

AVhen  the  neighbors  came  together,  the  most  prominent 
topic  of  conversation  was  relating  some  remarkable  witch 
tales,  ghost  stories  and  conjurations  of  various  kinds ;  and  so 
interesting  was  (sic)  these  stories  that  the  conversation  often 
continued  till  a  very  late  hour  at  night.  Often  have  I  sat  and 
listened  to  these  stories  till  it  seemed  to  me  that  each  hair 
upon  my  head  resembled  the  quill  of  a  porcupine.     I  was 


Autobiography  or  Brantley  York.  9 

afraid  to  go  out  of  doors,  afraid  to  go  to  bed  alnnc,  mid  almost 
afraid  of  my  own  shadow. 

There  were  persons  who  professed  to  bo  fortune-tellers, 
and,  as  i)eople  are  generally  anxious  to  know  their  future 
destiny,  they  were  willing  to  pay  these  impostors  for  unfold- 
ing to  them  the  future.  They  could  tell  a  young  man  the 
color  of  the  hair,  eyes,  skin  and  many  other  minutiae,  of  the 
girl  who  was  to  be  his  w^ife,  and  describe  with  much  exactness 
the  kind  of  man  that  each  girl  would  have  for  a  husband. 
When  it  was  known  where  one  of  these  Fortune-tellers  would 
operate,  the  house  would  generally  be  crowded  throughout  the 
day — so  anxious  were  the  people  to  know  what  neither  them- 
selves nor  the  fortune-teller  could  know.  I  recollect  on  one 
occasion  an  old,  yellow  man  by  the  name  of  J3ass,  professing 
to  be  a  Portuguese,  called  at  my  father's.  He  claimed  not 
only  to  be  a  great  fortune-teller,  but  he  could  also  unfold  the 
mystery  of  finding  stolen  or  lost  property ;  besides,  he  profes- 
sed the  peculiar  power  of  breaking  all  spells  and  witchcraft 
with  which  persons  or  animals  might  be  afflicted.  The  news 
having  spread  through  the  community,  the  house  was  filled 
to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  the  wdiole  day  was  spent  in  for- 
tune-telling, breaking  witchcraft,  and  removing  spells.  Late 
in  the  evening,  when  he  had  disposed  of  most  of  the  cases,  my 
parents  brought  me  up  to  have  my  fortune  told.  I  did  all  I 
could  to  prevent  it,  but  yet  I  was  compelled  to  submit,  and 
the  old  man  took  up  his  parable,  with  considerable  pomp  and 
gravity,  and  said,  "This  is  no  ordinary  boy;  he  will  be  a 
ringleader,  but  a  leader  to  all  kinds  of  wickedness,  such  as 
card-playing,  horse-racing  and  every  species  of  gambling 
and  finally,"  said  he,  ''he  will  end  his  ignominious  career  on 
the  gallows."  Poor  consolation  to  my  parents  and  friends  to 
know  my  destiny.  This  was  a  source  of  vexation  to  me  as 
long  as  I  remained  in  my  father's  family ;  for  whenever  I  did 
anything  mischievous  or  wrong,  I  would  hear  the  stereotyped 
expression,  ''There,  old  Bass'  predictions  are  coming  true." 

But  after  all  I  do  not  know  but  that  I  derived  some  benefit 
from  these  false  predictions,  for  after  several  years  had 
passed  away,  and  I  was  nearly  or  quite  growii,  I  was  in  com- 
pany with  several  young  men  who  were  my  peers,  and  a  game 


10  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

of  cards  was  proposed.  I  at  first  objected ;  but  some  one  of 
the  company  argued  that  thej  only  intended  to  play  for  fun 
or  amusement,  and  that  there  was  no  intention  of  betting, 
consequently  there  could  be  no  harm.  The  argument  seemed 
reasonable  and  I  gave  up  my  objection.  A  handkerchief 
was  spread  upon  the  ground,  and  we  all  got  around  it ;  a  pack 
of  cards  was  produced,  and  some  one  of  the  company  dealt 
out  the  cards ;  several  cards  were  thro\vn  to  me  with  their 
faces  downward — I  picked  them  up  and  looked  at  them, 
though  I  did  not  know  one  card  from  another.  But  at  that 
moment  what  old  Bass  had  predicted  like  a  flash  rushed  into 
my  mind ;  I  immediately  threw  the  cards  from  my  hand  and 
peremptorily  refused  to  play — nor  could  any  argument  in- 
duce me  to  play,  and  from  that  day  to  the  present,  I  am  not 
aware  of  having  touched  a  card. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1817,  my  father's  family  left 
the  old  homestead  on  Bush  Creek,  and  removed  some  eighteen 
miles  to  the  west,  and  settled  on  a  plantation  on  what  was 
called  the  Salem  road,  some  six  miles  east  or  rather  north- 
east of  what  is  now  Trinity  college.  This  was  an  exceedingly 
scarce  year,  and  those  who  had  large  families  and  small 
means,  found  it  no  easy  task  to  procure  bread  enough  to  sup- 
port their  families.  So  scarce  were  provisions  that  the  com- 
mon maple  was  tapped,  from  the  Juice  of  which  molasses  of  a 
very  inferior  quality  was  made;  my  father's  family  made 
several  gallons  of  this  kind  of  molasses.  The  following  year 
1818,  I  was  sent  to  school  some  two  and  one  half  months,  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  summer  and  fall,  to  a  teacher  by  the 
name  of  John  Short,  generally  known  as  Master  Short,  for 
teachers,  in  those  days  were  generally  called  masters.  Master 
Short  was  a  periodic  drunkard,  and  though  he  generally 
bound  himself  in  his  articles  to  abstain  from  drink  during  his 
school,  yet  he  seldom  failed  to  violate  his  contract  by  taking 
sprees  of  drinking,  which  generally  lasted  some  ten  days  or 
two  weeks.  His  scholarship  was  very  limited  extending  no 
farther  than  reading,  writing  and  common  arithmetic.  In 
fact  the  higher  branches,  such  as  Grammar,  Geography,  Phil- 
osophy, etc.,  were  seldom  or  never  taught  in  common  neigh- 
borhood schools ;  for  I  never  saw  an  English  Grammar  in  any 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  11 

school  I  attciidcxl.  The  truth  is,  I  never  saw  an  English 
Grammar  to  know  it  was  one,  till  I  was  nearly  twenty-six 
years  old.  In  this  school  I  learned  to  write,  but  of  course 
very  imperfectly.  I  very  well  recollect  frequently  writing 
the  date  1818,  being  annexed  to  our  copies.  This  was  the 
la^t  school  I  attended  (then  in  my  fourteenth  year)  during 
my  boyhood  days;  but  I  continued  to  improve  by  applying 
myself  to  my  studies  at  home,  or  where  I  worked. 

Soon  after  we  reacheed  our  new  home  my  father  and  my 
brother  Iliram  erected  a  distillery  which  was  a  very  common 
establishment  in  those  days.  This  distillery  was  kept  up  and 
closely  run,  for  the  most  part,  night  and  day  for  some  two  or 
three  years,  during  which  time  my  father  unfortunately  ac- 
quired the  habit  of  drinking  to  excess.  I  wish  to  state  here, 
by  way  of  parenthesis,  that  the  last  twenty-five  years  of  his 
life  he  was  a  sober  man  and     a  devoted  Christian,  having 

- 

signed  a  temperance  pledge  which  he  never  violated. 

In  this  connction  an  incident  occurred  which,  perhaps,  is 
worth  recording.  It  fell  to  my  lot  to  frequently  aid  the  dis- 
distiller  especially  at  night,  for  as  two  stills  were  run,  it 
required  considerable  attention  and  work  to  keep  them  going ; 
consequently  we  were  frequently  aroused  from  an  unfinished 
sleep,  stupidity  and  dullness  being  the  natural  consequence, 
and  to  drive  these  stupid  feelings  away,  a  dram  was  resorted 
to — hence  this  frequent  dram-drinking  created  a  thirst  for 
more,  and,  in  this  way  I  contracted  a  love  of  spirits. 

On  one  morning  having  business  to  attend  to,  which  re- 
quired early  attention,  I  arose  at  daybreak,  having  taken  the 
moniing  dram  which  was  as  common  as  breakfast,  I  set  out  to 
attend  to  the  business.  The  path  led  through  an  old  field, 
over  which  a  few  scattering  scrubby  pines  stood.  As  a  clump 
of  trees  stood  on  the  bank  of  the  race  near  the  path,  I  turned 
aside  to  say  my  prayers,  for  I  was  in  the  habit  of  praying 
morning  and  evening.  But  I  could  not  pray;  for  the  very 
attempt  appeared  to  be  sin.  I  arose  from  my  knees  in  much 
confusion,  and  as  I  walked  along  the  path,  my  mind  was  en- 
gaged in  reviewing  the  past,  trying  to  ascertain  what  could  be 
the  cause, — when  an  impression  was  made  so  deeply  on  my 
mind  that  I  really  thought  someone  spoke,  and  said  that  dram 


12  AUTOBIOGEAPHY    OF    BKA^TLEY    YoKK. 

is  the  cause;  and  so  fullv  was  I  under  the  belief  that  some- 
one had  spoken,  that  I  walked  around  all  the  pines  standing 
near,  but  found  no  one.  But  there  and  then,  I  resolved  to 
abandon  dram-drinking-,  which  resolution  I  have  adhered  to 
through  all  my  life,  though  I  found  it  no  easy  matter  to  keep 
my  resolution,  for  I  had  acquired  an  insatiable  thirst  for 
sti'ong  drinks,  and  as  almost  everybody  drank  around  me, 
men,  women  and  children,  and  even  ministers  of  the  gospel 
drank, — I  found  it  no  easy  matter  to  resist  the  frequent  im- 
portunities to  drink.  But  the  time,  however,  was  not  very 
long  till  the  thirst  subsided,  and  I  ceased  to  care  for  it. 
There  is  danger  in  acquiring  the  habit  of  drinking,  for  it 
often  leads  to  drunkenness  and  ruin ;  hence  total  abstinence  is 
the  only  safe  ground  that  can  be  occupied. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

My  Father  Involved  in  Debt — Property  Sold — Family 

Scattered. 

The  viper  which  my  father  had  carried  in  his  bosom  for 
many  years  at  length  rewarded  him  by  piercing  him  with 
its  poisonous  fangs.  He  fell  under  the  power  of  strong  drink 
which  he  had  been  long  producing;  he  drank  to  excess  and 
was  frequently  intoxicated,  and,  while  in  this  condition,  he 
made  bad  trades.  He  was  naturally  liberal-minded,  but  un- 
der the  influence  of  liquor  he  gave  with  an  unsparing  hand — 
especially  whiskey  or  brandy  which  was  to  him  the  same  as 
money — and,  in  this  way  he  became  so  deeply  involved  in 
debt  that  he  could  not  pay;  consequently  his  property  was 
executed  and  sold  for  less  than  half  its  value.  According  to 
the  laws  in  those  days,  but  a  very  small  quantity  of  property 
was  exempt  from  execution.  The  family,  therefore,  was  left 
in  a  very  destitute  condition. 

The  family  at  this  time  consisted  of  Father  and  Mother 
and  children  viz :  three  brothers  and  two  Sisters.  The  older 
sister  was  nearly  grown,  but  the  other  being  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  was  quite  small.     The  three  brothers  wore  next 


AUTOBIOGUAl'UY     OF     BhA.NTLEY     YoUK.  13 

to  each  other  in  the  foHowiiic;  order:  William,  Brantley 
and  John  Wesley.  William  went  to  live  with  John  F>ond, 
onr  brother-in-law  for  the  i)urpose  of  learning  a  trade;  Wes- 
ley and  I  were  hired  ont.  We  sometimes  worked  at  the 
same  plaee,  bnt  more  freqnently  we  were  separated.  ]\Iy 
Father  also  worked  abont  in  the  nabourhood  by  the  day,  for 
he  was  not  now  in  the  babbit  of  hunting  up  alcoholic  liquors, 
but  only  drank  too  much  when  he  came  in  contact  with  them. 
The  two  iiii-ls  remained  at  home  with  mother,  who  was  at 
that  time  in  bad  health. 

I  w^^rked  for  nearly  all  the  farmers  in  the  neighl)ourhood, 
but  more  for  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Johnson  than  any 
other,  perhaps.  Mr.  Johnson  was  [a]  young  married  man," 
having  a  wife  and  two  small  children.  He  was  industrious 
and  fruaal,  but  ign(n-ant  and  superstitious.  He  would  not 
connnence  any  piece  of  work  whatever  on  Friday,  as  he 
regarded  it  as  an  unlucky  day.  He  was  by  [no]  means  reli- 
gious, but  used  ]>rofane  language  but  seldom.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  very  kind  to  me  ,Hnd  1  loved  to  work  for  him. 
AVhile  I  was  working  with  Mr.  Johnson  an  incident  occurred 
which  is  perhaps  worth  recording.  I  shall  merely  state  it  as 
a  fact,  without  note  or  comment,  and  leave  the  reader  to  draw 
his  own  conclusion.  On  a  certain  day  we  were  pulling  fodder. 
jNir.  Johnson  was  a  few  paces  in  advance  of  me,  when  he  sud- 
denly stopped,  and  turning  round,  looked  me  steadily  in  the 
face,  and  said  without  even  a  smile,  ''Brantley,  you  will  make 
a  preacher,  and  when  you  become  a  preacher,  I  want  you  to 
tell  me  what  to  do.'"'  That  man  lived  to  hear  me  preach  two 
or  three  sermons,  and  in  a  short  time  after  he  was  taken  sick, 
and  died. 

On  one  occasion  my  brother  Wesley  and  I  were  sent  to 
work  for  a  man  who  lived  some  eight  or  nine  miles  from  our 
home.  It  was  in  the  month  of  Xovember  and  when  we  left 
home  the  weather  was  pleasant.  We  had  shoes,  but  no  socks 
or  coats.  Soon  after  we  reached  the  place  of  our  destination, 
the  weather  turned  quite  cold  and  very  heavy  frosts  fell  at 
night.  We  with  the  negroes  were  sent  out  before  sunrise  to 
pull  corn.  The  corn  was  on  the  low-grounds  of  a  creek,  where 
the  cuckleburrs  and  Spanish  needles  were  as  high  or  higher 


14  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

than  our  heads.  We  suffered  extremely  from  the  cold.  This 
was  our  lot  every  morning.  Our  fare  also  was  bad,  especially 
supper.  The  man  for  whom  we  worked  possessed  no  small 
amount  of  property.  He  was  a  little  past  middle  age,  but 
his  wife  (as  she  was  the  second)  was  very  young.  She  was 
the  mother  of  one  child  only — that  was  an  infant;  but  there 
were  five  or  six  other  children  whose  mother  was  dead.  None 
of  them  were  grown.  Though  our  fare  was  bad,  we  fared  just 
as  his  own  children.  I  never  saw  him  at  the  table  when  we 
ate.  His  wife  however  generally  waited  on  the  table.  We 
were  told  by  some  of  the  work  hands  that  he  and  his  wife  ate 
at  a  different  table  and  had  very  different  fare.  This  how- 
"ever  I  did  not  see.  He  was  a  local  preacher  in  the  M.  E. 
Church,  though  his  walk  was  by  no  means  exemplary ;  for  we 
never  heard  him  pray,  nor  did  either  he  or  his  wife  ever 
sjoend  any  time  with  the  family  after  supper.  We  worked 
with  him,  some  four  or  five  days,  and  on  either  Thursday  or 
Friday  in  the  afternoon  we  were  sent  into  the  orchard  to 
gather  apples.  One  string  of  the  fence  enclosing  the  orchard 
was  hard  by  the  road  leading  homeward.  We  watched  our 
opportunity,  and  when  we  thought  no  one  saw  us,  we  climbed 
over  the  fence  and  took  the  road  for  home ;  nor  did  we  travel 
slowly,  for  we  ran  a  large  fraction  of  the  way  and  reached 
home  about  dark. 

This  was  the  only  time  that  I  ever  ran  away  from  the  place 
where  I  worked,  and  had  a  good  reason  for  doing  it  this  time, 
for  our  work  was  very  hard  and  our  fare  very  bad.  Early 
next  moniing  this  man  came  to  take  us  back,  but  we  per- 
emptorily refused  to  go;  nor  did  father  try  to  make  us.  How 
little  did  that  man  think  that  the  poor  boy  whom  he  treated 
so  badly  would  be  the  educator  of  his  children,  for  four  of 
them  were  afterwards  in  the  school  where  I  was  Principal. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Removal  of  the  Family. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1820  (as  I  now  recollect)  the 
family  removed  westward  some  five  miles,  and  occupied  a 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  15 

liuuse  kluiigiiig  to  William  Lcaoli  Esq.,  located  in  the  imme- 
diate neighborliood   in  which   Trinity   College  now  stands. 
While  here  1  worked  for  nearly  all  the  farmers  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Trinity  College,  bnt  more  for  Mr.  Leach  than  any 
other  man.     Early  in  the  spring  of  1821,  while  with  several 
others  in  piling  logs  in  a  new-ground,  as  six  of  us  were  carry- 
ing a  log  with  hand  spikes,  1  and  a  boy  about  my 'size  were  at 
the  butt  end,  I  having  hold  of  the  sharpened  end  of  the  hand- 
spike.    The  two  that  w^re  carrying  at  the  smaller  end  let 
their  end  of  the  log  fall,  jerking  the  handspike  out  of  my 
hands,  as  I  was  making  a  step  with  my  right  foot;  the  end 
of  the  handspike  struck  me  on  the  instep  with  great  force, 
making  a  deep  cut.     For  several  minutes  my  leg  was  para- 
lyzed to  the  knee,  having  no  sensation  in  it  at  all,  and  had  I 
judged  from  the  sense  of  feeling  only,  my  conclusion  would 
have  been,  that  my  leg  was  off  at  the  knee.    I  was  not  able  to 
walk  for  some  two  months.    As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  work,  I 
went  to  work  for  a  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Josiah  Blai^, 
who  sent  me  to  plough  in  a  field  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  the  house,  directing  me  when  I  heard  the  trumpet  to 
come  to  breakfast  and  bring  the  horse  with  me.    Accordingly 
I  turned  out  and  started  to  the  house.      As  I  was  crossing  a 
branch  of  the  Uwharrie  the  horse  stopped  to  drink  and  while 
he  was  drinking,  I  got  down  on  a  large  rock  that  was  not 
covered  by  water,  with  a  view  of  washing  my  hands  and  face, 
and  while  I  was  washing  the  horse  stepped  upon  my  naked 
foot,  and  it  on  the  rock.     It  was  the  same  foot  that  was  hurt 
by  the  handspike.     It  was  literally  crushed.     How  I  reached 
the  bank  I  never  knew,  and  I  was  for  some  time  nearly  or 
quite  unconscious.     I  was  aroused  from  this  swooning  state 
by  someone  shaking  me.     I  was  taken  home,  nor  was  I  able 
to  work  any  more  for  about  four  months.     Soon  after  I  be- 
gan to  walk  on  my  foot  it  commenced  hurting  me,  the  first 
sensation  being  that  of  a  fine  brier  or  nettle  deeply  seated  in 
the  ball  of  my  foot.    Frequent  efforts  were  made  to  extract  it 
but  none  could  be  found.     I  left  home  on  Monday  morning 
as  I  now  recollect  to  work  during  the  week  for  a  man  living 
some  five  or  six  miles  distant.     I  continued  working  till  Fri- 
day evening  though  in  much  pain.     I  then  left  for  home 


16         AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  BrAXTLEY  YoRK. 

intending  to  remain  there  till  my  foot  became  well,  but  on 
Saturday  morning  Mr.  Leach  sent  for  me  to  come  and  help 
his  hands  pnll  fodder.  I  pnt  an  old  shoe  on  my  foot  and 
went,  and  when  I  returned  at  night  my  foot  was  worse,  but 
next  morning  being  Sunday,  it  was  said  ''a  big  meeting"  was 
going  on  some  six  miles  distant,  and  as  several  young  people 
of  both  sexes  were  going  afoot,  I  also  determined  to  go,  and 
pressed  my  foot,  though  considerably  swollen  into  my  shoe 
and  walk(ed)  to  the  church.  At  the  close  of  the  exercise,  it 
was  announced  that  during  the  evening  a  meeting  would  be 
held  at  a  private  house.  Though  it  was  a  mile  and  a  half  or 
two  miles  out  of  the  way,  my  company  resolved  to  go,  though 
none  of  us  had  had  any  dinner.  During  the  exercises  the  pain 
in  my  foot  was  excrutiating,  and  at  the  close  of  the  meeting,  I 
found  myself  unable  to  walk  a  step.  The  question  now  was 
"how  am  I  to  get  home."  But  as  there  w^ere  two  boys  in  the 
company  both  taller  than  myself,  I  placed  a  hand  on  a  shoul- 
der of  each,  and  hopped  home  a  distance  of  four  miles.  It  is 
impossible  for  me  to  give  anyone  an  adequate  idea  of  the  in- 
tensity of  my  suffering  for  the  next  two  or  three  weeks;  so 
during  the  year  '21  I  suffered  much  and  worked  but  little. 

While  working  for  Mr.  Leach  I  found  a  warm  sympathizer 
and  fast  friend  in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Leach.  She  was  a  lady, 
though  not  thoroughly  educated,  of  a  strong  mind  and  fluent 
in  conversation.  One  day  at  the  dinner  table  she  said  to  me 
in  her  familiar  way,  "Brantley,  your  hair  is  too  long  for  this 
hot  weather,  wouldn't  you  like  to  have  it  trimmed  ?"  T  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative.  "Well,"  said  she,  "w^heu  dinner  is 
over  come  into  my  room,  and  I  will  trim  it  for  you."  After 
trimming  my  hair  she  placed  the  palm  of  her  hand  against 
my  forehead,  with  her  fingers  extending  up  into  my  hair, 
pressed  my  head  up  erect,  and  step]ung  back  she  looked  me 
straight  in  the  face  and  remarked,  "Bn-antlev,  vou  will  not 
always  be  in  the  field  working  with  negroes."'  These  words 
fell  upon  my  ear  as  words  of  projihccy,  for  though  I  had  an 
insatiable  tliii-sf  for  an  education,  I  had  not  as  yet  seen  how 
it  was  to  be  obtained,  for  I  had  neither  time  nor  books  to 
study ;  but  that  lady  lived  to  see  her  prediction  fulfilled,  for 


AuTOiiioGRAniY  OF  Bkantley  York.  17 

she  often  heard  me  })!•(  ach  and  heture,  and  saw  me  the  prin- 
ei})al  i)f  a  high  e^ehool. 

While  we  lived  on  Mr.  Leach's  place  I  freqncntly  worked 
for  a  class  of  people  call(ed)  Qnakers,  or  Friends.  These 
were  generally  well-to-do  farmers,  and  as  they  were  reli- 
giously opposed  to  slavery,  they  hirtd  freqncntly,  and  gener- 
ally speaking  they  were  a  clever,  sober,  industrious  people, 
and  always  treated  me  kindly. 

I  frequently  worked  for  an  elderly  man  by  the  name  of 
Enos  Blair,  and  on  one  occasion,  while  I  was  working  for 
him,  the  Quarterly  Meeting  to  be  held  at  Marlboro  Church 
was  near.  I  heard  them  speak  of  a  watermelon  patch  in  the 
garden,  but  the  old  gentleman  refused  to  let  any  bo  pulled, 
as  he  was  keeping  them  for  the  accommodation  of  his  friends 
whom  he  expected  to  visit  him  during  the  meeting.  One  day 
while  in  company  with  two  of  my  comrades,  both  of  whom 
were  older  and  larger  than  myself — in  fact  they  were  nearly 
or  quite  grown — I  happened  to  speak  of  this  watermelon 
patch,  with  no  specified  intention  as  I  recollect.  They 
immediately  proposed  to  go  and  steal  them,  and  thus  disap- 
point "the  old  Quakers,''  as  they  called  them.  I  objected,  as 
the  very  thought  of  stealing  was  revolting  to  my  mind ;  but 
they  ai-gued  the  case,  and  said  we  had  just  as  much  right  to 
the  melons  as  the  "old  Quakers"  as  they  neither  belonged  to 
us  nor  to  them.  Fallacious  as  this  argument  was,  it  had  the 
desired  effect  upon  my  mind.  I  yielded  and  consented  to  go 
with  them.  The  night  before  the  meeting  commenced  was 
fixed  upon  as  the  proper  time  to  commit  the  deed.  Accord- 
ingly we  met.  One  of  them  having  a  sack.  We  proceeded  to 
the  scene  of  action  and  when  we  reached  the  place,  the  plan  of 
operation  was  agreed  upon.  It  fell  to  my  lot  to  stand  between 
the  house  and  garden,  to  w-atch  as  a  sentinel.  One  of  the  oth- 
ers was  to  go  into  the  garden  and  pull  the  melons,  and  hand 
them  over  the  garden  palings  to  the  other,  w^ho  put  them  into 
the  sack  as  he  received  them.  Every  melon  was  pulled  that 
could  be  found,  but  it  was  no  pleasant  thing  for  me,  for  before 
the  thing  was  accomplished,  I  deeply  regreted  that  I  had  en- 
gaged in  it,  but  the  deed  was  done,  and  no  one  knew  it.     A 


18      Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

pole  was  procured  and  the  sack  of  melons  placed  on  it.  We 
then  moved  stealthily  away.  On  reaching  a  persimmon  tree 
which  stood  in  the  old  field  we  stopped,  and  ate  as  many  of 
the  melons  as  we  could.  By  this  time  a  very  angry  looking 
cloud  had  arisen  in  the  .West  and  proclaimed  its  approach  by 
deep-toned  thunder.  We  gathered  up  our  stolen  property  and 
set  out  for  home.  The  weather  was  very  warm,  and  seed  ticks 
abundant,  and  as  we  tredged  along  we  gathered  our  full  share. 
The  cloud  rapidly  advanced — the  lightning  was  almost  con- 
stantly flashing  and  the  thunder  becoming  louder  and  louder. 
We  were  compelled  to  take  shelter  in  a  barn  which  was  well 
filled  with  bearded  wheat.  We  crawled  up  on  the  wheat  near 
the  roof.  It  was  a  fearful  storm.  The  thunder  was  terrific. 
The  lightning  was  almost  constantly  glaring  and  the  rain  fell 
in  torrents.  Xever  can  I  forget  that  night.  It  was  the  most 
wretched  of  my  life.  The  ticks,  the  heat,  and  the  bearded 
wheat  were  all  instruments  of  torture,  but  far  worse  than  all 
the  rest  combined,  were  the  goadings  of  the  guilty  conscience. 
I  was  horribly  damned,  for  I  felt  as  if  I  could  not  live  till 
morning.  At  length  daylight  appeared,  and  we  hastened  to 
get  away,  but  one  proposed  however  that  before  leaving  we 
should  take  another  mess  of  watermelons;  This  however  I 
refused,  having  no  taste  for  stolen  melons.  I  hastened  home ; 
but  my  guilty  conscience  went  with  me.  A  few  days  after  I 
went  back  to  work  for  the  same  old  man.  While  at  the  break- 
fast table  a  small  boy,  a  grandson  of  the  old  gentleman,  said 
to  me,  ''Brantley,  some  mean  rascals  came  here  and  stole  all 
of  grandfather's  melons."  My  feelings  at  that  time  I  have 
no  language  to  describe.  If  I  looked  as  guilty  as  I  felt,  it  is 
a  Wonder  they  did  not  know  I  was  one.  This  was  the  first 
and  the  last  time  that  I  ever  engaged  in  stealing  melons  oi' 
anything  else.  If  Franklin  ])aid  too  dear  for  his  whistle,  I 
paid  too  dear  for  the  watermelons. 


AuTOBioCrRAriiY  OF  Brantley  York.  19 

CHAPTER  Vr. 

The  ^Foral  Conditions  of  the  Neighborhood — A  Young 

Lady  Converted  at  a  Dance  Frolic — A  Revival 

of  Religion. 

I  have  never  known  any  coininunity  or  neighborhood  more 
completelv  deinorali>:ed  than  was  this.  Very  few  of  the 
heads  of  the  families  made  any  pretensions  to  religion  or 
morality  and  the  light  of  those  that  did,  appeared  to  be  under 
a  bushel ;  for  I  never  heard  a  blessing  asked  at  the  table  or  a 
prayer  offered  in  any  family,  either  by  night  or  morning. 
Preaching  was  seldom — prayer-meetings  never  nor  was  there 
any  such  thing  as  Sunday-school.  Sabbaths  were  desecrated, 
for  the  young  people  would  frequently  assemble  together  on 
Sunday,  to  play  at  cards  or  engage  in  some  game  of  diversion. 
Books  were  circulated  among  them  which  were  of  the  most 
vulgar  and  demoralizing  character,  and  eagerly  read,  espee- 
cially  by  the  young  men  and  large  boys.  Though  a  preacher 
lived  in  the  neighborhood,  and  also  an  exhorter,  however  re- 
ligious they  may  have  been  personally,  they,  like  Eli  of  old, 
utterly  failed  to  restrain  their  children.  Few  and  feeble  were 
the  checks  to  the  downward  course  of  the  youth  of  both  sexes. 
The  Athenians  in  the  days  of  St.  Paul  were  not  perhaps 
more  fully  devoted  to  the  worship  of  idols,  than  were  the 
young  people  of  this  neighborhood  to  the  woi-ship  of  the  god 
of  pleasure ;  for  they  held  weekly  two  dance  frolics  on  Wed- 
nesday and  Saturday  nights,  and  as  all  came  who  chose  with- 
out regard  to  character  or  morality,  it  may  be  safely  inferred 
that  these  frolics  were  very  disorderly  and  demoralizing.  But 
a  change  came,  and  the  cause  of  that  change  was  not  a  little 
remarkable.  Some  minister  preached  on  Sunday  previous 
to  the  Wednesday  night  dance,  and  Miss  Ester  Morgan  who 
was  an  expert  in  dancing  was  convicted.  But  she  concealed 
her  state  of  mind  even  from  her  father  who  was  a  member  of 
the  church  and  also  an  Exhorter.  The  Wednesday  night 
dance  came  on,  when  several  young  men  called  at  Mr.  Mor- 
gan's to  gallant  the  girls  to  the  frolic.  Miss  Ester  however 
manifested  an  unwillingness  to  go ;  but  being  importuned  and 
pressed,  she  consented  and  went. 


20  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

The  party  having  assembled,  and  ready  to  commence,  the 
yoimg  men  began  to  select  their  partners,  but  Miss  Ester  re- 
fused to  dance  with  any.  This  doubtless  was  surprising  to 
all ;  but  when  they  commenced  their  exercise  and  the  music 
began,  she  dropped  upon  her  knees  and  began  praying  aloud. 
This  was  to  the  party  as  a  clap  of  thunder  in  a  clear  sky,  and 
perhaps  if  an  earthquake  had  shaken  the  house,  the  alarm 
would  not  have  been  greater,  for  a  greater  part  of  them  left 
the  house  and  fled  as  for  life.  The  fiddler  fled  for  home  and 
some  two  or  three  with  him,  and  one  that  was  with  him  made 
the  following  statement  to  me:  ''We  went  over  fences  and 
through  corn  fields,  taking  the  nearest  way  for  home,  and  as 
I  heard  the  blades  of  corn  cracking  behind  me,  I  felt  certain 
that  the  Devil  was  right  after  me,  and  on  reaching  the  door 
of  the  house  we  didn't  waited  (sic)  for  any  one  to  open,  but 
broke  down  the  door  and  jumped  into  bed  and  covered  up 
head  and  ears  without  pulling  shoes,  hat,  coat,  or  a  rag  (of) 
clothes  ofl",  and  were  almost  afraid  to  breathe,  lest  the  Devil 
should  hear  us  in  our  concealment."  Only  a  few  had  courage 
enough  to  stand  their  ground.  These  sent  for  the  young 
lady's  father  and  some  other  members  of  the  church  and  so 
the  dance  frolic  was  turned  into  a  prayer-meeting,  and  just 
before  day  the  young  lad}'  was  converted. 

So  dance  frolics  ended  and  prayer-meetings  began.  A 
revival  of  religion  spread  all  over  that  community,  and  nearly 
all  the  young  people  of  both  sexes  professed  religion  and 
joined  the  church. 

Religion  flourished  and  schools  revived,  for  they  generally 
go  hand  in  hand.  This  neighborhood  (the  neighborhood  of 
Trinity  College)  has  for  more  than  a  half  century  been  dis- 
tinguished for  religion,  morality  and  learning. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Family  Removes — Engages  in  Farming — First 
Camp-meeting — Conviction  and  Conversion. 

In  the  spring  of  '22,  we  rented  a  plantation  on  Muddy 
Creek,  then  called  the  Lowe  Place.     Since  then  it  was  occu- 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  21 

pud  by  Mr.  William  Robins,  now  deceased.  Tho  place  is 
about  two  and  one-half  miles  East  of  Trinity  College,  and 
about  one  and  one-half  or  two  miles  from  the  Leach  Place 
which  we  left.  The  land  was  tolerably  fertile,  and  i)aid  the 
cultivater  (sic)  well.  There  was  also  a  good  orchard  both  of 
apple  and  peach  trees.  We  were  successful  in  farming,  and 
raistd  plenty  of  all  kinds  of  grain.  Xothing  of  particular 
interest  occurred  during  this  year.  In  the  early  part  of  Aug- 
ust, '2o,  a  camp-meeting  was  held  at  Ebenezer  Church — the 
first  of  the  kind  that  I  had  ever  seen.  The  wooden  tents  were 
made  of  jioles  and  all  slatted  one  way.  The  doors  were  very 
low,  insomuch  that  it  looked  very  much  like  crawling  into  a 
tent,  also  some  families  occupied  cloth  tents.  The  only  cov- 
ering about  the  arbor  was  over  the  altar.  Lewis  Skidmore  was 
the  Presiding  Elder,  and  Joachim  Lowe  was  the  preacher  in 
charge.  Other  preachers  were  in  attendance  whose  names 
I  do  not  recollect,  though  there  were  three  Local  preach- 
ers living  in  the  neighborhood,  viz, :  James  jSTeedham,  Alson 
Gray  and  Joseph  Clark.  These  were  active  workers  in  the 
altar.  Skidmore  was  a  man  something  above  the  medium- 
size — his  voice  clear,  loud  and  impressive.  The  people  seemed 
to  think  he  was  the  greatest  man  in  the  world  and  every 
effort  was  made  by  both  men  and  women  to  go  out  and  hear 
the  Elder,  and  indeed  he  was  worth  hearing.  The  meeting 
resulted  in  gTeat  success;  many  professed  religion  and  were 
added  to  the  church.  Thoueh  I  had  been  from  earlv  bov- 
hood  religiously  impressed,  my  convictions  had  passed  off  and 
I  had  become  rather  careless  and  indifferent,  and  was  really 
afraid  of  the  preachers.  My  brother-in-law  James  Coltrane 
was  tented  there,  and  some  of  the  preachers  were  there  almost 
at  every  meal.  If  I  knew  they  were  there,  I  would  not  go 
though  my  sister  urged  me  strongly.  So  she  would  watch  her 
oi)i3ortunity  and  bring  me  something  to  eat  wherever  she 
could  find  me.  I  went  to  the  meeting  on  Saturday,  and  con- 
tinued there  till  Tuesday  afternoon.  I  then  went  home  with 
the  intention  not  to  return.  I  [had]  listened  to  the  preaching 
generally  and  attentively;  but  it  had  but  a  slight  effect  upon 
my  mind.  Soon  after  I  reached  home  Tuesday  evening, 
three  or  four  of  mv  comrades  came  alone;  aoino'  to  the  meet- 


22  Autobiography  of  Beantley  York. 

iiig.  They  called  to  me  and  asked  if  I  were  not  going.  I 
told  them  I  was  not;  for  I  believed  I  had  e;ot  about  enough 
of  the  eamp-meeting ;  but  they  insisted  and  I  went  w^ith  them. 
We  were  engaged  in  laughing  and  talking  and  cracking  jokes 
on  the  way  to  the  meeting ;  but  when  we  got  within  about  half 
a  mile  of  the  camp-ground,  w^e  heard  the  shouting  and  sing- 
ing of  the  people — conviction  immediately  seized  upon  my 
mind.  I  had  no  more  taste  for  merriment  of  any  kind,  and 
to  avoid  hearing  my  comrades  laugh  and  talk  I  fell  behind, 
and  on  reaching  the  campground  I  saw  several  of  my  friends 
male  and  female  who  w^ere  as  I  thought  as  wicked  as  myself 
when  I  left,  now  apparently  as  happy  as  Seraphs.  This 
deepened  my  convictions  and  I  became  exceedingly  anxious 
to  feel  what  I  believed  they  felt. 

Soon  after  reaching  the  campground  the  sun  set — night 
drew  on,  the  camp  ground  Avas  illuminated,  the  trumpet 
sounded  and  the  people  eagerly  gathered  around  the  stand 
to  hear  what  the  Lord  would  speak.  I  had  not  as  yet  decided 
to  go  into  the  altar,  but  thought  it  more  than  probable  that 
I  would  after  hearing  the  sermon ;  consequently  I  occupied 
a  seat  not  far  from  the  altar  door.  The  sermon  was  listened 
to  with  marked  attention,  and  at  its  close  there  w^as  quite 
a  stir  among  the  people — many  w^ere  pressing  into  the  al- 
tar; others  were  w^eeping,  who  did  not  go.  My  friend  Mr. 
Ahi  Robins,  who  sat  near  me,  cried  out  aloud,  "Help  me 
to  get  into  the  altar,  and  keep  the  Devil  from  cheating  me 
out  of  my  soul."  I  was  strongly  urged  by  many  to  go  into 
the  altar,  but  I  would  not  go,  notwithstanding  the  load  of 
sin  was  heavy.  I  left  the  congregation  and  sought  some 
secret  j^lace  for  prayer  and  meditation.  Xot  a  few  diffi- 
culties were  presented  to  my  mind  by  the  Tempter,  I  sup- 
pose; such  as:  "the  time  was  W'hen  you  might  have  obtained 
religion,  but  it  is  now  too  late — you  are  a  reprobate,  and  it  is 
useless  to  try,  and,  if  you  are  not,  you  are  young  and  there 
is  plenty  of  time  yet  to  attend  to  this  w^ork."  A  thunder 
cloud  was  now  perceived  to  be  approaching,  rumbling  thunder 
aug-mentcd  the  solemnity  of  the  scene,  and  when  it  was  ]X'r- 
ceived  that  the  cloud  would  come  over,  all  the  penitents  that 
were  outside  the  altar  (for  the  altar  could  not  contain  all) 


AUTOBIOGRAIMIY    OF    BrANTLEY    YoRK.  23 

were  taken  tu  the  ehureli.  1  also  went  into  the  ehureh,  and 
took  a  seat.  Notwithstanding  there  was  singing,  shouting, 
praying,  and  talking,  I  paid  but  little  attention  to  it,  for  I 
was  trying  to  eome  to  a  decision,  which  at  length  I  did.  I 
decided  to  seek  religion  there,  and  then.  I  set  no  limit  to  the 
time  I  woidd  seek,  only  the  close  of  life.  As  soon  as  I  had 
reached  the  conclusion,  I  knelt  at  my  seat  without  being  in- 
vited to  do  so  by  anyone.  I  connnenced  praying  as  earnestly 
as  1  knew  how.  At  length  1  found  myself  lying  on  the  floor 
with  my  head  in  someone's  lap ;  but  when  or  how  I  got  into 
that  position,  I  know  not.  For  some  time  I  was  perplexed 
with  the  harassing  thought  that  my  wicked  comrades  were 
laughing  at  me.  The  burden  was  heavy  and  the  struggle  long. 
My  friends  were  constantly  bringing  news  to  me  that  this  one 
and  that  one  had  obtained  religion,  and  among  them  was 
my  friend  Mr.  Ahi  Robins.  Finally  they  told  me  that 
every  penitent  had  obtained  religion  but  myself — not,  per- 
haps, less  than  fifty  in  number.  The  night  was  now  far  spent 
and  day  was  approaching.  At  length,  however,  I  reached  a 
state  of  mind  that  I  cared  not  who  laughed  nor  who  cried.  I 
had  now  become  willing  to  be  anything — to  do  anything — or 
to  suffer  anything  in  order  to  be  relieved  of  the  burden  which 
seemed  intolerable  to  be  borne.  It  was  suggested  to  my  mind 
in  the  form  of  a  question,  ''What  hinders  since  you  have 
given  all  up."  At  that  moment  the  burden  left,  and  I  felt 
perfectly  easy;  but  knew  not  what  had  removed  it.  I  could 
not  say  that  I  had  religion,  for  that  I  did  not  know;  but  my 
faith  had  wonderfully  increased ;  and  I  fully  believed  if  I 
asked  to  know,  the  petition  would  be  answered,  and  scarcely 
was  the  petition  fonned  in  my  mind  when  I  was  filled  unut- 
terably full  of  glory  and  of  God. 

How  I  arose  from  my  position  I  know  not  nor  ever  did. 
The  first  thing  of  which  I  have  any  distinct  recollection  as 
attracting  my  attention  was  that  a  Local  preacher  by  the  name 
of  Joseph  Clark  was  holding  me  in  his  arms,  and  singing: 

I  little  thought  He'd  been  so  nigh. 
His  speaking  makes  me  laugh  and  cry. 

After  the  ecstasy  had  somewhat  subsided,  and  I  had  become 
cool  enough  to  think,   I  really  thought  I  had  lost  all  my 


24  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York, 

weight,  and,  in  order  to  convince  myself  of  the  fact,  I  went 
out  of  doors  and  walked  upon  the  leaves  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  they  would  give  way  under  my  feet  or  not ;  but  I 
found  I  was  mistaken.  As  well  as  I  recollect,  day  was  now 
just  beginning  to  break.  It  was  the  12th  day  of  August, 
1823.  At  eight  o  'clock  the  trumpet  sounded  and  the  people 
for  the  last  time  during  that  meeting  gathered  around  the 
stand.  The  door  was  open  to  receive  members,  and  I  with- 
out consulting  father  or  mother,  brother  or  sister  or  anyone 
else,  went  into  the  altar,  and  gave  my  hand  to  the  preacher  in 
charge,  and  from  that  day  to  this  (1886)  I  have  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  or  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Secret  Prayer— Class  Meetings — Band  Meetings. 

After  the  eight  o'clock  service  at  which  time  the  camp- 
meeting  broke,  as  stated  in  the  previous  chapter,  I  set  out  for 
home ;  but  as  my  ecstasy  of  joy  had  subsided,  the  tempter  as 
sailed  me,  urging  that  I  had  lost  my  religion,  and  that  it  was 
impossible  for  anyone  to  keep  it  any  length  of  time ;  conse- 
quently the  onl^  possible  way  to  ever  reach  heaven  would  be 
to  get  religion  just  before  death.  This  temptation  rendered 
me  miserable,  for  I  did  not  know  that  it  proceeded  from  the 
tempter.  On  reaching  home  I  scarcely  knew  what  to  say. 
I  could  say  I  knew  I  had  religion  at  the  camp-meeting,  but  I 
could  not  say  that  I  had  it  then.  I  was  anxious  for  night  to 
come  on  that  I  might  resort  to  secret  prayer,  and  when  the 
evening  shades  prevailed  I  sought  the  most  secret  place  that 
I  could  for  prayer.  I  went  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  house  to  a  papaw  thicket  and  there  I  wrestled,  Jacob-like, 
until  I  obtained  a  blessing,  and  made  the  happy  discovery 
that  I  had  not  lost  my  religion.  I  returned  to  the  house  re- 
joicing. I  think  I  learned  from  experience  that  secret  prayer 
is  essential  to  the  maintenance  of  a  religious  principle  and 
feeling  in  the  heart.  Both  preachers  and  class  leaders  insisted 
most  strenuously  on  the  observance  of  secret  prayer  as  an  in- 
dispensable duty,  and  this  to  be  efficient,  must  be  habitual. 


AUTOBIOGRAI'IIY    Ol'    BraNTLEY    YoRK.  25 

Class  meetings  in  those  days  vvi'ic  held  as  regularly  as 
preaching,  and  indeed  more  frequently ;  for  every  leader  held 
a  meeting  at  least  once  or  twice  between  the  times  of  preach- 
ing, and  the  preacher  in  charge  scarcely  ever  failed  to  hold  a 
class  meeting  immediately  after  preaching. 

These  class  meetings  were  generally  very  useful  and  edify- 
ing; but  some  leaders  held  their  class  meetings  in  such  a  way 
that  they  were  scarcely  either  edifying  or  profitable.  The 
leader  would  generally  select  some  member  to  assist  him,  and 
while  the  members  kept  up  continual  singing  would  go  around 
and  talk  to  each  member  on  his  seat ;  consequently  the  mem- 
bers generally  could  hear  scarcely  nothing  of  what  the  leader 
or  members  said ;  but  other  leaders  adopted  a  diiferent  meth- 
od. The  leader  would  stand  and  call  the  name  of  each  mem- 
ber, when  the  name  was  called  the  member  would  rise,  and 
the  leader  would  examine  him  as  to  his  present  enjoyments 
in  religion,  whether  he  was  regular  in  the  discharge  of  his 
secret  prayer  and  whether  he  enjoyed  religion  in  the  home 
circle.  He  would  then  give  such  advice  as  the  nature  of  the 
case  demanded.  This  method  was  highly  edifying  and  profit- 
able. The  leader  would  also  occasionally  sing  a  stanza  or 
two  of  a  hymn  adapted  to  the  state  of  mind  of  certain  mein- 
bers,  the  other  members  also  joining  with  him  in  singing. 
This  tended  to  make  the  meeting  intensely  interesting  as 
well  as  instructive. 

After  the  camp-meeting  held  at  the  same  place,  Ebenezer 
Church,  in  '24,  the  class  became  so  large  that  it  was  found 
expedient  to  divide  it  into  three  sections,  a  leader  being  ap- 
pointed to  each  section.  One  of  these  leaders  held  a  meeting 
each  Sunday,  except  on  the  regular  preaching  day.  Any 
member  of  the  class  had  a  right  to  attend  every  meeting ;  but 
the  leader  examined  none  except  the  members  of  his  own  sec- 
tion. 

Eev.  Alson  Gray  was  my  first  class  leader,  who  subse- 
quently acquired  some  notoriety  as  a  preacher  in  the  M.  P. 
Church.  Franklin  Harris  was  my  next  leader.  He  was  a 
man  of  piety  and  good  sense,  and  of  agi-eeable  manners.  Ahi 
Eobins  was  my  next  and  last  leader  at  Ebenezer;  he  was  a 
man  of  strong  feeling  and  deep  piety,  and  was  highly  es- 


2G      Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

teemed  by  the  members  of  bis  class.  The  two  former  have 
gone  to  their  reward,  but  Brother  Robins  is  still  living  (18- 
86).  It  was  a  rare  thing  in  those  days  for  one  to  backslide; 
for  the  young  converts  were  tenderly  nursed  and  watched  over 
by  their  leaders.  The  General  Conference  which  removed  the 
obligation  of  members  to  attend  class  meeting  may  have  ren- 
dered the  church  more  popular,  but  I  think  less  vitally  pious. 

In  those  days  the  Methodist  discipline  provided  for  the 
formation  of  Band  Meetings.  These  bands  were  rather  pecu- 
liar, for  not  only  males  and  females  met  separately,  but  also 
married  and  unmarried  persons  met  separately.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  peculiarity  it  was  impracticable  for  women  in 
the  country  to  meet  in  Band  Societies ;  hence  the  rule  could 
only  be  carried  out  so  far  as  women  were  concerned,  in  towns 
and  cities.  In  the  neighborhood  in  which  I  resided,  both  the 
married  and  unmarried  men  formed  bands  which  met  at  dif- 
ferent jjlaces.  There  were  only  five  young  men  who  belonged 
to  the  young  mens'  band.  viz. :  John  Gray,  William  Gray, 
Ahi  Robins,  William  Lenard  and  myself.  We  met  weekly 
at  night,  in  an  old  schoolhouse,  and,  according  to  the  rules  of 
the  band,  each  one  in  turn  acted  as  leader.  Each  meeting 
w^as  opened  by  reading  the  scriptures,  singing  a  hymn,  and 
prayer  by  the  leader,  after  w^hieh  the  leader  made  a  state- 
ment of  his  religious  experience  during  the  past  week  involv- 
ing such  as  temptation,  trial,  religious  enjoyment,  etc.  Each 
member  was  then  called  upon  to  make  a  similar  statement  of 
his  experience, — never  going  back  beyond  the  week.  The 
meeting  was  then  closed  by  singing  another  hymn,  and  prayer 
by  some  one  of  the  members. 

I  found  the  exercises  of  these  meetings  to  be  very  advanta- 
geous to  me,  though  at  first  it  was  very  embarrassing  to  act 
as  leader ;  for  I  was  naturally  timid  and  retiring  in  my  man- 
ners. The  band  continued  to  meet  about  twelve  months  and 
would  doubtless  have  continued  longer,  but  for  the  dispersion 
of  several  of  the  members.  But  this  was  long  enough  to  en- 
dear the  members  to  aeh  other. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  27 

CIIAPTEK   IX. 

1824-18;)7 — Camp  Meetings — The  JMimstky — Te^vching. 

At  this  time  ('24,  '25,  '2G)  camp  meetings  were  held  in 
various  places  in  different  counties  and  were  generally  at- 
tended with  the  happiest  results.  It  was  nothing  uncommon 
for  one  hundred  converts  to  be  the  result  of  a  single  meeting. 
In  the  latter  part  of  August,  1824,  a  camp  meeting  was  held 
in  the  southern  portion  of  Randolph  County  at  a  church 
called  Salem.  I  and  two  other  young  men  resolved  to  go — 
previous  to  that  time  we  had  never  been  to  a  camp  meeting, 
except  at  Ebenezer.  Having  prepared  biscuits  for  our  jour- 
ney (for  we  expected  to  board  ourselves,  and  sleep  in  the 
altar,  as  the  weather  was  warm)  we  set  out  early  on  Saturday 
morning  for  the  camp  meeting  and  reached  the  camp  ground 
about  the  time  the  tent  holders  were  at  dinner.  We  were 
agreeably  surprised  on  being  invited  to  dinner,  for  we  expect- 
ed no  such  hospitality.  Our  next  care  was  to  have  our  horses 
provided  for.  This  having  been  done,  we  felt  quite  satisfied, 
though  all  were  strangers  except  two  preachers.  Christopher 
Thomas  was  the  preacher  in  charge — he  was  a  good  preacher 
and  a  most  devoted  Christian.  A  few  years  after  he  was  sta- 
tioned in  the  town  of  Newberne,  and  after  having  the  most 
extensive  revival  of  religion  ever  known  in  that  place,  he 
died  a  most  triumphant  death. 

When  night  came  on  we  were  kindly  provided  for  in  the 
way  of  sleeping.  Some  thirty  or  thirty-five  tents  were  occu- 
pied— much  larger  and  of  a  better  quality  than  those  at  Ebe- 
nezer. The  people  were  unusually  kind,  the  preaching  was 
good  and  we  enjoyed  ourselves  finely — so  much  so  that  I 
would  have  been  glad  if  it  had  lasted  a  month.  There  was  a 
considerable  revival ;  there  were  many  penitents  in  the  altar 
and  not  a  few  converts.  Here  for  the  first  time  I  began  to 
work  in  the  altar.  The  meeting  closed  on  the  Wednesday 
morning  following  and  we  parted  with  those  kind  friends 
with  many  tears.  We  then  set  out  for  home,  feeling  and  be- 
lieving that  camp  meetings  were  the  next  door  to  Paradise. 

On  reaching  home  we  heard  that  a  camp  meeting  was  to  be 
held  in  Guilford  County,  at  a  church  called  Pleasant  Garden, 


28  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

commencing  on  the  following  Friday  night.  We  resolved  to 
go,  but  did  not  get  ready  to  start  till  after  dinner  on  Satur- 
day. We  then  set  out,  full  of  the  spirit  of  camp  meetings, 
expecting  a  rich  feast  of  enjoyment ;  but  night  overtook  us 
before  we  reached  the  camp  ground  and  we  thought  it  best  to 
stop  and  wait  till  morning.  We  were  kindly  entertained  by 
the  family  with  whom  we  lodged ;  but  we  were  so  eager  for 
the  camp  meeting  we  refused  to  remain  for  breakfast,  believ- 
ing that  we  should  be  amply  supplied  when  we  reached  the 
camp  ground.  In  this,  however,  we  were  a  little  mistaken. 
When  w^e  reached  the  camp  ground  the  people  w^ere  generally 
engaged  at  their  breakfast.  Our  first  care  w^as  to  secure  a 
place  for  our  horses.  This  was  soon  done,  for  we  obtained  a 
good  pasture  for  them  near  the  camp  ground,  but  we  missed 
our  breakfast.  But  this  we  regarded  as  a  mere  accident,  hav- 
ing arrived  at  an  unpropitious  time.  We  cared,  however,  but 
little  for  this ;  for  we  would  only  be  the  better  prepared  for 
dinner,  as  we  thought  of  course  that  we  would  be  fully  known 
by  dinner,  for  we  were  sure  that  three  strangers  of  some  dis- 
tinction would  attract  attention.  It  never  once  occurred  to 
our  minds  that  it  was  necessary  for  us  to  introduce  ourselves 
or  to  apply  to  the  P.  C.,*  for  a  home ;  but  to  our  astonishment 
and  chagrin  dinner  came  on  and  they  had  not  found  us  out 
yet,  nor  had  we  any  biscuits  as  at  the  other  camp  meeting  to 
resort  to,  feeling  well  assured  that  we  would  be  well  supplied 
as  we  had  been  at  the  other  meeting.  But  alas !  supper  came 
on,  and  we  were  still  unknown.  By  this  time  we  began  to 
feel  a  little  slim — we  had  stood  about  and  walked  about  and 
yet  no  one  had  noticed  us.  We  now  began  to  think  that  some- 
thing would  have  to  be  done,  but  what  to  do  we  knew  not,  for 
we  had  no  money,  and  to  beg  we  were  ashamed.  Night  came 
on — the  trumpet  sounded  and  the  people  gathered  about  the 
stand  to  hear  preaching.  We  were  there  (for  we  never  missed 
a  sermon)  but  soon  after  taking  my  seat,  I  was  taken  quite 
sick.  After  preaching  ^vas  over  I  lay  do^ai  upon  a  bench. 
There  was  a  gentleman  standing  near  me.  I  asked  him  if  he 
knew  where  I  could  obtain  a  place  to  lie  down  as  I  was  quite 
sick.    He  said  he  did  not,  but  would  try  to  find  one.    He  left, 

*P.  C  means  Preacher  of  Circuit.     [Ed.] 


AuTOBiocJKAi'iiY  OF  Bran'tlfa'  Yokk.  29 

but  t^oou  returned,  iiifonniig'  iiic  that  he  li;ul  sccurt  J  a  place 
for  me  to  sleop.  He  eoiiducted  me  to  it  (it  was  the  sitting 
part  of  a  tent),  with  a  wagon  sheet  spread  upon  straw.  This 
was  rather  poor  acconnnodation  for  a  sick  man,  but  I  was 
glad  to  get  it.  I  lay  down  upon  this  sheet  without  undressing, 
and  after  some  time  I  fell  asleep,  and,  when  1  awoke,  it  was 
(lav  and  the  family  was  stirring.  1  remained  till  breakfast 
but  received  no  invitation  to  eat.  We  now  got  together  and 
concluded  that  we  had  better  try  to  g(t  home  while  we  had 
sufficient  strength  to  do  it,  and,  as  I  wa.s  unwell,  my  two 
friends  proposed  to  go  for  the  horses.  While  they  were  gone 
I  took  a  walk,  and  as  I  walked  I  met  a  company  of  persons 
coming  from  the  neighborhood  of  Trinity  College,  and  among 
them  was  my  friend  ^Mrs.  William  Leach.  She  saluted  me  in 
her  familiar  way,  "Well,  I]rantlev,  how  are  you  getting 
along  V 

"Xot  very  well,''  was  my  answer. 

"Why,  what  is  the  matter  ?    Don't  they  feed  you  ?'' 

"I  have  eaten  nothing  since  Saturday  night." 

''Well,  well,  that  is  a  hard  case;  come  along  with  me,  I 
have  brought  a  lunch  for  myself,  but  you've  got  to  eat  it." 

I  gladly  accepted  the  offer.  About  the  time  I  finished  eat- 
ing, my  friends  came  with  the  horses.  We  mounted  and  left 
for  home.  This  was  Monday  morning  about  eleven  o'clock, 
having  eaten  nothing  since  Saturday  night.  We  wondered 
how  people  in  adjoining  counties  could  be  so  different.- 

Some  fifteen  years  after  this  occurrence,  I  was  invited  to 
attend  a  camp  meeting  held  at  this  same  place ;  but  things 
had  very  much  changed.  Then  I  was  a  youth  without  educa- 
tion and  green  enough — now  I  was  a  preacher  and  Principal 
of  a  high  school.  I  preached  each  day  of  the  meeting,  nor  did 
I  lack  for  anything  to  eat ;  but  I  scarcely  ever  looked  over  the 
consregation  without  thinking  of  our  starvin£>:  time  at  that 
place. 

Perhaps  the  stan'ing  time  through  which  I  passed  at  this 
camp  meeting,  though  a  bitter  pill  to  me,  resulted  in  some 
good  ;  for  in  after  years,  in  attending  camp  meeting  as  a 
preacher,  I  made  it  my  business  to  look  out  for  green  boys,  as 
I  was  once,  and  have  arrangements  made  for  their  accommo- 


30  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

dations,  for  I  have  never  forgotten  what  I  passed  through  at 
the  first  camp  meeting  I  ever  attended  at  Pleasant  Garden. 
Wealth  and  position  are  scarcely  ever  overlooked ;  but  those 
on  the  lower  rounds  of  society  are  frequently  neglected,  and 
it  is  sometimes  the  case  that  the  neglected  ones  make  the  most 
distinguished  and  useful  men. 

Some  ten  years  having  rolled  away  after  I  attended  camp 
meeting  at  Salem,  I  returned  to  that  place  as  a  preacher,  and 
when  I  arose  to  preach  to  the  people  the  first  time,  on  looking 
over  the  congregation  and  recogTiizing  the  faces  of  many 
friends  wdio  had  treated  me  so  kindly  when  a  mere  youth,  my 
emotions  may  be  imagined  but  never  described.  i!^or  was  my 
preaching,  imperfect  as  it  was,  without  an  efi^ect  upon  the 
congregation. 

Camp  meetings  recently  have  lost  much  of  their  power  and 
usefulness,  and  as  every  eftect  must  have  a  cause,  there  is  a 
cause  or  causes  for  this  decline,  nor  does  it  require  a  very 
close  observer  to  perceive  some  of  the  causes  at  least,  which 
have  produced  this  deplorable  effect.  Members  of  the  church 
do  not  seem  to  feel  as  deep  interest  as  formerly,  and  are 
not  so  willing  to  make  the  necessary  preparation ;  and  as  these 
meetings  have  lost  their  novelty,  the  attendance  is  generally 
quite  thin  till  Sunday,  and  this  being  a  kind  of  show  day,  but 
little  good  is  generally  accomplished,  and  as  the  tent  holders 
are  few  in  numbers,  and  consequently  are  pressed  with  the 
number  they  have  to  entertain,  in  consequence  of  this  they 
generally  break  up  as  early  as  Tuesday  or  Wednesday  morn- 
ing succeeding  the  Sabbath.  The  only  apparent  remedy  for 
these  failures  is  to  have  fewer  of  them  and  to  continue  them 
some  ten  or  twelve  days. 

During  the  year  '24  a  library  Society  was  formed  at  Eb- 
enezer  Church,  at  which  place  I  held  my  membership.  The 
society  was  regularly  organized  and  ofiicered.  The  payment 
of  $2.00  and  an  annual  tax  of  twenty-five  cents  was  the  con- 
dition of  membershi]).  The  society  met  quarterly  and  at  each 
meeting  the  books  were  all  brought  together  and  the  names  of 
the  members  written  on  a  slip  of  paper,  and  put  into  a  hat, 
and  as  they  were  drawn  out  each  member  took  choice  of  the 
books  that  were  on  hand,  l)ut  if  one  was  disposed  to  pay  four 


AUTOBIOORAPIIY    OF    BrANTLEY    YoRK.  31 

or  six  clolliii's,  he  drew  a  book  for  each  share.  I  put  in  first 
only  one  share,  but  that  did  not  satisfy  me.  I  continued  to 
put  in  till  I  had  four  shares,  and  though  engaged  in  working 
on  a  farm,  read  about  one  thousand  pages  a  week.  The 
society  flourished  for  some  three  years,  during  which  time  I 
read  a  large  number  of  books.  But  my  thirst  for  knowledge 
led  me  to  read  too  much,  more  than  I  could  assimilate.  But 
notwithstanding  this,  the  library  was  no  small  source  of  im- 
provement to  myself  and  others,  and  any  similar  institution 
cannot  fail  to  be  a  blessing  to  any  community. 

When  about  twenty  years  old  I  hired  to  a  gentleman  Ijy 
the  name  of  Robbins,  as  a  distiller.  His  establishment  was 
large,  and  required  the  constant  attention  of  two  distillers. 
At  first  I  was  only  an  assistant,  but  soon  after  I  entered  the 
establishment  the  principal  distiller  left,  and  I  was  employed 
as  the  principal  distiller.  But  I  saw  so  much  wickedness 
caused  by  drinking-  that  I  was  led  to  doubt  the  morality  of  the 
business,  and  after  reflecting  on  it  for  some  weeks,  I  became 
thoroughly  convinced  that  it  was  wrong.  Consequently,  I 
determined  to  abandon  it,  notwithstanding  I  was  making 
much  higher  wages  than  I  could  possibly  make  on  the  farm, 
and  though  my  employer  was  exceedingly  unwilling  to  give 
me  up, — yet  I  abandoned  the  business  forever. 

In  the  year  '2Q,  when  I  was  about  twenty -one  years  old,  I 
and  another  young  man  by  the  name  of  Emsly  Leach  rented 
ground  from  Lewis  J^each,  Esq.,  and  raised  a  crop  of  corn 
and  cotton. 

Though  I  was  impressed  at  a  very  tender  age  that  I  must 
preach,  yet  for  several  years  after  my  conversion,  I  was  not 
impressed  that  I  was  called  to  preach.  But  while  engaged  in 
cultivating  this  crop,  the  impression  returned  with  great 
force,  so  much  so  that  I  could  scarcely  sleep  at  night.  The 
impression  pursued  me  wherever  I  went,  nor  could  I  find  any 
permanent  peace,  till  I  solemnly  promised  the  good  Lord  that 
as  soon  as  I  could  make  preparation  I  would  undertake  it. 
In  the  meantime  I  went  to  a  gold  mine  to  work,  and  not  long 
after  engaging  in  the  gold  mining,  I  was  employed  to  do  the 
business  for  a  large  ])ortion  of  the  mine,  and  for  sometime  I 
made  money  vei-y  fast.     The  temptation  was  then  presented 


32  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

to  me,  to  which  I  inifortiniately  yielded,  to  put  off  preaching 
till  I  acquired  considerable  means,  and  then  I  would  have  no 
difficulty  in  entering  upon  the  work,  but  in  the  course  of  less 
than  eighteen  months,  instead  of  getting  rich  I  lost  all  I  had 
made,  and  was  compelled  to  struggle  with  debt,  and  I  could 
see  no  opening  for  me  to  preach.  But  at  length,  I  determined 
to  make  the  effort  and  quit  my  mining  and  manual  labor  of 
every  kind.  In  December,  1831,  I  commenced  teaching 
school  at  Bethlehem  Church,  Guilford  County,  Xorth  Caro- 
lina. In  a  few  weeks  after,  I  was  appointed  class  leader  by 
the  P.  C.  I  had  previously  held  my  membership  at  Pleasant 
Garden  for  several  years,  and  when  application  was  made  for 
license  to  exhort,  it  was  made  to  the  society  at  P.  G.,  but 
that  society  refused  to  grant  them,  being  influenced  by  a  Local 
preacher  and  a  class  leader,  Avho  said  they  didn't  believe  that 
I  could  ever  make  a  preacher, — but  I  thought  I  knew  my  duty 
and  resolved  to  do  it.  ^L\  membership  being  removed  to 
Bethlehem,  no  further  opposition  was  offered. 

I  here  record,  by  way  of  parenthesis,  my  first  marriage. 
On  the  31st  of  January,  1828,  I  was  united  in  holy  matri- 
mony, by  Eev.  John  Coe,  to  Miss  Fannie  Sherwood,  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Eachel  Sherwood,  of  Guilford  County,  X.  C. 
At  the  time  of  my  marriage  I  was  twenty-three  years  and 
twenty-seven  days  old,  and  my  wife  nearly  nineteen.  We 
lived  pleasantly  together  for  nearly  six  years;  then  death 
severed  the  union,  and  she  now  lies  beside  her  infant  son  in 
the  graveyard  of  Pleasant  Garden  Church. 

I  now  had  license  to  exhort,  but  to  begin  was  a  heavy  cross. 
I  preached  my  first  sermon  in  my  brother  Hardin's  house  in 
Randolph  County,  frcmi  Romans  Gth  chapter  and  23rd  verse. 
This  sermon  was  preached  before  I  had  license  at  all.  At 
the  opening  of  the  spring  of  '32  I  commenced  preaching  at 
Bethlehem  Church  once  in  two  weeks,  and  also  on  Sunday 
evening  at  the  widow  Field's.  I  also  established  a  Sabbath- 
school  at  Bethlehem,  which  was  largely  attended.  In  a  few 
weeks  a  revival  broke  out  which  continued  some  two  or  three 
months,  during  which  time  there  were  many  converts  and 
considerable  accessions  were  made  to  the  church.  I  con- 
tinued teaching  at  Bethlehem  for  nearly  two  years.     In  the 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  33 

fall  of  '33  1  was  licensed  to  preach.  The  P.  E.  who  signed 
my  license*  was  the  sainted  John  W.  Childs. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  '32,  before  I  was  licensed  to  preach,  I 
was  invited  to  Cool  Spring  Church  and  York's  school-house, 
in  Randolph  County.  The  appointment  stood  at  the  school- 
house  on  Saturday  night  and  at  the  church  on  Sunday.  There 
was  a  good  effect  at  the  schoolhouse,  as  there  were  some  four 
or  five  penitents.  On  Sunday  there  was  a  signal  display  of 
divine  power.  The  whole  church  was  an  altar,  there  were 
several  converts,  but  the  number  is  now  forgotten.  This  re- 
vival was  extensive,  as  it  extended  to  all  the  adjacent  neigh- 
borhoods, and  lasted  for  several  months.  I  continued  preach- 
ing through  the  winter  on  Saturday  night  and  Sunday  at 
Cool  Spring,  and  very  many  were  added  to  different  churches. 
Revival  also  broke  out  at  Wood's  schoolhouse,  where  (I) 
preached  on  Sunday  nights,  where  no  society  had  been 
formed.  In  this  work  1  was  aided  by  Brother  William  An- 
derson, the  P.  C.  Prom  the  fruits  of  this  revival  a  society 
was  formed,  and  a  new  church  erected  called  Randolph 
Church. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1833,  I  left  Bethlehem 
and  taught  a  three  month  school  near  Pleasant  Garden 
Church.  In  a  few  days  after  I  was  licensed  to  preach,  I  at- 
tended a  camp  meeting  at  a  place  called  Troy's  Camp-gi'ound. 
At  this  camp  meeting  I  preached  several  times.  The  meeting 
was  quite  successful,  and  not  long  after  a  church  was  erected, 
named  Bethel,  which  I  believe  is  still  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion. 

In  the  last  of  October  or  first  part  of  Xovember,  I  left  the 
neighborhood  of  Pleasant  Garden  and  took  charge  of  a  school 
on  Sandy  Creek  in  Randolph  County  in  a  thickly  settled 
neighborhood,  generally  called  Ellison  Town.  I  continued 
fifteen  months,  during  which  time  I  preached  at  various 
private  houses  in  the  neighborhood,  insomuch  that  one  man 
remarked  that  I  had  preached  at  every  man's  house,  except 
his  '*ash-hopper."  I  also  preached  regularly  at  the  school- 
house,  in  which  I  taught ;  nor  was  the  preaching  in  vain,  for 

•p.  E.,  abbreviation  for  Presiding  Elder.     [Ed,] 
3 


34  AutobioctEaphy  of  Brantley  York. 

we  had  a  considerable  revival  at  the  school  house.  While 
teaching  this  school,  I  lost  mj  aifectionate  wife,  who  died  on 
the  14th  dav  of  January,  1834,  leaving  one  living  child.  But 
mv  loss  was  doubtless  her  eternal  gain  for  her  death  was  most 
triumphant.  She  remarked  to  me  a  little  before  she  died,  "I 
have  no  desire  to  live  but  for  you  and  little  Kachel." 

While  engaged  in  teaching  this  school  in  June,  '34,  I  held 
my  tirst  two  days  meeting  at  Troy's  Academy,  though  as  has 
already  been  stated,  I  had  the  clearest  possible  evidence  of 
my  call  to  the  ministry,  yet  I  was  frequently  assailed  by  the 
tempter,  urging  that  this  was  only  a  notion  of  mine — that 
there  was  no  such  thing  as  a  real  call  to  the  ministry.  I  was 
very  much  concerned  about  this  two  days  meeting,  and  as  it 
was  to  be  held  on  the  very  eve  of  harvest,  I  was  harrassed 
with  the  thought  that  there  would  be  but  very  few  in  attend- 
ance. Some  night  or  two  before  the  meeting  was  to  com- 
mence, I  had  a  very  remarkable  dream,  which  forever  settled 
the  question  in  my  mind  as  to  the  genuineness  of  my  call  to 
the  ministry.  I  was  boarding  at  this  time  with  a  Mr.  Thos. 
Ellison.     The  family  was  devotedly  pious. 

THE    DREAM. 

I  dreamed  that  a  large  flock  of  partridges  was  before  me, 
and  around  my  feet  was  a  large  number  of  white  stones  or 
pebbles  about  the  size  of  a  partridge  egg,  though  perfectly 
round  and  transparent ;  and  I  gathered  my  hands  full  of  these 
pebbles  and  threw  them  among  the  partridges,  and  as  I  now 
recollect,  thirteen  was  the  number  killed.  The  success  excited 
me  and  I  awoke,  and  I  spent  several  minutes  in  reflecting  on 
the  dream.  It  seemed  a  little  remarkable  to  me,  as  I  was  no 
sportsman,  but  closely  engaged  in  studying;  but  as  soon  as 
possible,  I  dismissed  it  as  a  dream  merely,  and  fell  asleep, 
and  dreamed  again  that  the  partridges  repr(»sentcd  the  people 
that  would  be  at  the  two  days  meeting — that  the  white  stones 
represented  the  words  that  would  be  ])reac'h(>(l,  and  that  the 
number  killed  represented  the  number  of  ]>eople  that  would 
be  saved  at  this  meeting.  Again  1  awoke  and  found  myself 
not  a  little  excited,  and  after  reflecting  for  some  time  on  this 
dream  and  interpretation,  I  again  fell  asleep  and  the  dream 


ArToniOGUAPiiv  of  Brantley  York.  35 

and  the  interpretation  were  l)oth  repeated,  which  made  a 
dee])  impression  on  my  mind.  The  morning  came,  and  as 
theri'  were  several  boarders  in  the  school  [who]  wished  to  go, 
and  as  conveyances  were  almost  impossible,  we  set  out  early 
afoot,  though  the  distance  was  ten  miles, — but  my  mind  was 
so  deeply  impressed  that  I  could  not  enjoy  the  company.  I 
had  not,  as  yet,  told  the  dream  to  anyone.  There  was  a  young 
man  in  the  company  who  was  studying  for  the  ministry.  I 
concluded  to  tell  the  dream  to  him,  as  it  might  somewhat  re- 
lieve the  burden  that  pressed  so  heavily  on  my  mind.  We  fell 
a  little  behind  the  others  and  I  related  my  dream  to  him.  He 
appeared  to  be  full  of  faith  and  said,  "As  certain  as  there  is 
a  God  in  heaven,  the  dream  will  come  to  pass."  I  requested 
him  to  keep  it  a  secret  until  the  meeting  should  have  passed. 
On  arriving  at  the  place,  I  found  a  larger  number  of  people 
in  attendance  than  I  had  expected.  I  preached  from  the 
text:  "O  Lord  revive  thy  work,"  and  when  penitents  were 
invited,  some  five  or  six  presented  themselves  at  the  altar, 
and  after  singing  and  praying  for  some  time,  the  congrega- 
tion was  dismissed,  and  an  appointment  made  for  the  night. 

When  the  hour  had  arrived  we  met  according  to  apj^oint- 
ment,  and  the  congregation  had  very  much  increased  in  num- 
ber, and  after  preaching,  the  penitents  w-ere  again  invited, 
when  some  ten  or  twelve  presented  themselves  at  the  altar, 
but  no  one  professed.  The  following  day  a  love-feast  meeting 
was  held  at  nine  o'clock  a.  m,  and  preaching  at  eleven.  The 
love-feast  meeting  was  well  attended,  and  the  members  of  the 
church  appeared  to  enjoy  themselvs  well,  and  when  penitents 
were  invited  quite  a  number  presented  themselves.  When 
eleven  o'clock  had  arrived,  the  congregation  was  so  large  that 
we  were  compelled  to  go  to  the  grove,  and  I  ])reached  from  the 
text,  ''Escape  for  thy  life."  The  effect  was  pow^erful,  and  a 
large  number  presented  themselves  at  the  altar  for  prayer, 
and  not  a  few  of  these  were  wealthy  and  influential,  but  only 
one  made  a  profession  of  religion.  This  now  appeared  to  be 
the  time  for  breaking  up  the  meeting,  and  while  I  was  con- 
sidering what  course  to  adopt,  brother  Troy  approached  me 
and  said:  "Brother  York,  this  meeting  must  not  be  broken 
up."  But  I  said,  "What  can  I  do.    The  school  is  to  commence 


36         AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  BkANTLEY  YoRK. 

tomoiTow  morning,  and  the  distance  as  you  know  is  ten 
miles."  He  replied,  "Appoint  meeting  for  this  afternoon, 
and  I  will  see  to  your  getting  to  the  school."  This  was  done, 
and  a  large  congregation  was  in  attendance  before  the  hour 
arrived.  I  preached  again,  and  the  effect  again  was  very 
powerful,  and  many  presented  themselves  at  the  altar  at 
prayer.  We  continued  working  with  the  penitents  till  dark, 
and  while  they  were  lighting  up  the  room,  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  events  occurred  in  the  history  of  my  life,  for  al- 
most as  sudden  as  a  flash  of  lightning,  every  penitent  was 
converted,  and  such  a  time  I  have  scarcely  ever  witnessed. 
And  after  the  excitemnt  had  a  little  subsided,  at  the  request 
of  Brother  Troy,  I  opened  the  door  to  receive  members,  when 
thirteen  gave  me  their  hands  and  their  names,  and  thus,  as  it 
appears  to  me,  my  dream  was  literally  fulfilled. 

At  the  close  of  my  school  here  I  went  to  Salem  Church  near 
Franklinville,  Eandolph  County,  and  taught  there  twelve 
months.  During  my  teaching  there  and  at  Ellison  town  we 
formed  a  temperance  society  in  Salem  Church  which  was 
very  prosperous  for  several  years,  and  no  doubt  accomplished 
much  good.  I  frequently  preached  and  lectured  on  Temper- 
ance at  various  places  in  the  surrounding  country,  and  fonned 
societies  at  different  places.  In  the  summer  of  '35,  I  was 
elected  president  of  Eandolph  Temperance  Society,  the  meet- 
ings of  which  were  held  at  each  court  at  Asheboro. 

When  this  school  closed  I  went  to  York's  schoolhouse,  at 
which  place  a  subscription  school  had  been  raised  for  nine 
months.  While  here  I  commenced  lecturing  on  'Nat.  Phy.  on 
Saturday  evenings.  For  the  benefit  [of  the  students]  I  also 
formed  a  night  class  and  instructed  the  students  in  Grammar 
and  Arithmetic.  And  while  here  I  married  the  second  time — 
to  Miss  Mary  AVells  Lineberry.  We  were  united  in  marriage 
on  November  13th,  1836.  In  the  community  of  this  school- 
house  I  preached  and  lectured  frequently  on  temperance.  I 
formed  a  society  in  the  town  of  ISTew  Salem,  which  continued 
in  successful  operation  for  several  years.  After  the  school 
had  closed  here,  a  school  was  made  in  a  new  school-house  near 
Walker's  IMills,  same  county,  named  Piney  Grove,  in  the  im- 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  37 

mediate  ucighboi-hood  of  Old  Union  Meeting-house,  as  it 
used  to  be  called,  at  which  place  the  first  camp-meeting  wa.s 
ever  held  in  Randolph  County. 

A  short  time  before  this  meeting  commenced,  one  of  Mr. 
Bell's  negro  women  dreamed  that  she  went  from  that  camp 
meeting  (to  be  held  soon)  to  heaven,  and  it  is  more  than  prob- 
able that  her  dream  was  literally  fulfilled,  for,  as  it  is  related, 
on  Sunday  afternoon  of  the  camp  meeting. she  became  exceed- 
ingly happy,  and  continued  shouting  and  praising  God  till 
she  fell  dead. 

In  the  spring  of  '37  we  moved  into  the  neighborhood  of  the 
school,  and  occupied  a  house  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by 
Mr.  Bell,  of  revolutionary  memory.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Bell 
built  the  church  above  named,  and  it  generally  went  by  the 
name  of  Bell's  Meeting-house.  It  was  a  log  building,  not  of 
lai-ge  dimensions,  with  a  gallery  in  the  end  fronting  the  pul- 
pit, which  was  generally  occupied  by  the  colored  people.  This 
was,  I  think,  a  free  church,  for  at  the  time  we  lived  in  the 
neighborhood  both  the  M.  E.  and  the  ]\[.  P.  church  had  a 
society  in  the  church  with  regular  preaching,  and  Qamp  meet- 
ings were  sometimes  held,  principally  by  the  M.  P.  Church. 
While  in  this  community  I  lectured  frequently  on  Temper- 
ance, at  different  places. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  1837,  the  Eeverend  S.  Y.  McMas- 
ters,  of  the  M.  P.  Church,  and  myself  were  solicited  to  deliver 
addresses  on  temperance  in  the  town  of  ISTew  Salem,  I^T.  C. 
We  were  also  requested  to  write  our  addresses.  We  met  on 
3:00  o'clock,  p.  m.,  in  the  Quaker  Church;  but  brother  Mc- 
Masters  did  not  attend.  The  meeting  was  large,  and  both 
editors  of  the  Temperance  Advocate  were  present.  An  ex- 
tract of  the  address  which  I  delivered  on  the  occasion  was 
published  in  the  Temperance  Advocate  and  in  The  Soutliern 
Citizen,  published  in  Ashboro  by  Benjamin  Swaim,  Esq.  Be- 
low is  the  extract  verbatim.* 

In  the  month  of  August  during  this  year,  I  attended  a 
camp-meeting  at  Salem  Church  in  the  northeast  portion  of 
Randolph  County.  Some  twelve  or  thirteen  years  previous 
to  this  time  I  had  attended  a  camp  meeting  at  this  place  when 

•Speech  was  not  enclosed.    [Ed.] 


38  AuTOBioGKAriiY  OF  Bkaatley  York. 

a  mere  youth.  The  kind  treatment  with  which  I  was  favored 
by  the  tent  holders  made  a  lasting  impression  on  my  mind. 
These  were  the  Xances,  Lewises,  Ingrams,  Keeams,  Woods, 
and  many  others.     These  I  remembered  with  gratitude. 

On  Saturday  in  the  afternoon  when  I  first  stood  before  the 
people  to  preach,  I  recognized  many  of  these  kind  friends, 
though  some  of  their  heads  had  turned  gray.  This  filled  me 
with  emotions  w^hieh  almost  choked  utterance.  I  read  for  my 
text  the  IGth  and  17th  verses  of  the  third  chapter  of  Malichi, 
"Then  they  that  feared  the  Lord  spake  often  one  to  another," 
etc.  The  excitement  was  so  high  that  my  voice  was  drown  [ed] 
with  the  shouting  of  the  people  in  front  and  the  preachers  in 
the  rear.  On  reaching  the  preachers  tent  this  unique  remark 
was  made  by  the  late  Jno.  W.  Thomas,  Esq.,  "Brethren," 
said  he,  ''I  tell  a^ou  what  this  afternoon  reminded  me  of.  It 
reminded  me  of  boys  hunting  rabbits.  The  dogs  had  been 
trailing  for  a  long  time,  and  w^hen  they  jumped  the  rabbit, 
the  boys  followed  and  screamed  so  in  every  direction  that  it 
distracted  the  dogs  and  they  lost  the  rabbit."  To  this  one  of 
the  preachers  replied,  "But  we  did  not  lose  the  rabbit,  for, 
though  the  preacher  was  disturbed,  the  object  was  gained." 
At  this  meeting  I  was  strongly  solicited  by  my  P.  E.,  the 
Eev.  James  Reid,  and  the  preachers  generally,  to  join  con- 
ference, but  could  not  at  that  time  give  a  definite  answer. 

During  the  autumn  of  this  year,  brother  Thompson  Gar- 
rett came  all  the  way  from  Alamance,  then  Orange,  to  re- 
quest me  to  attend  a  camp-meeting  of  his,  to  hv  held  almost 
on  the  banks  of  the  Haw,  at  Salem  Church.  Three  different 
denominations  had  societies  in  this  church,  the  ^L  E.  Church, 
the  M.  P.  Church,  and  the  Presbyterian.  To  this  meeting  I 
consented  to  go,  as  it  would  be  almost  directly  in  my  way  to 
attend  my  brother  John  W.'s  wedding,  to  which  I  had  been 
invited  and  consented  to  go.  A  young  preacher  by  the  name 
of  Jackson  who  was  attending  my  school  at  Piney  Grove,  re- 
solved also  to  go.  I  did  not  reach  the  camp-ground  until  Sun- 
day, just  as  the  Presiding  Elder  was  closing  the  eleven  o'clock 
services.  I  here  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  late  Ileze- 
kiah  G.  Lee,  who  was  the  Presiding  Elder,  and  as  we  were 
walking  to  one  of  the. tents  for  dinner  he  remarked  to  me. 


Ar  lOHicxiKAiMiY   OF  Brantley   York.  39 

"1  have  a  ludloii  of  birakiiig  up  this  cainj^ineetiiig  tomorrow 
nioriiiiig/' 

-Why,"  said  I. 

"liccau.so,"  said  \u\  "wi'  arc  doing-  no  good.  The  Protest- 
ant Methodists  have  just  h(  Id  a  camp-meeting  here,  and  never 
had  a  single  m.ourner,  and  we  have  been  here  ever  since 
Thursday  night  and  have  not  had  even  a  grunt.  Thompson 
Garrett,'  continued  he,  "is  a  fool  for  having  appointed  a 
meeting  here,  for  one-half  of  the  people  is  full  of  pride,  and 
the  other  full  of  prejudice,  and  the  only  chance  that  I  can 
see  of  doing  any  good  would  lie  to  preach  to  the  negroes,  and 
that  is  not  practicahle." 

I  simply  replied,  "1  have  come  with  the  intention  of  re- 
maining till  Wednesday  morning  if  the  meeting  continues, 
and  the  result  may  possibly  be  better  than  you  expect." 

"I  would  rather  see  it,"  said  he  "than  hear  tell  of  it,  but  I 
want  you  to  preach  for  me  this  afternoon."  And  here  the 
conversation  ended.  At  the  appointed  hour  I  preached,  and 
some  five  or  six  penitents  presented  themselves  at  the  altar. 
At  eleven  o'clock  on  Monday  the  Presiding  Elder  preached, 
nor  was  it  any  ordinary  effort ;  it  was  listened  to  with  pro- 
found attention  but  very  little  visible  effect  was  produced. 
At  two  o'clock,  I  preached  according  to  appointment,  but  no 
extraordinary  effect  was  produced.  There  were  generally  at 
each  hour  some  penitents  at  the  altar  but  very  few  converts 
up  to  Tuesday.  At  11  o'clock  Tuesday  the  Presiding  Elder 
occupied  the  hour.  His  sermon  was  excellent,  well  planned 
and  well  executed,  but  still  there  was  but  ver}'  little  apparent 
effect.  At  2  o'clock  p.  m.  I  preached  again,  from  the  21st 
verse  of  12th  chapter  of  the  Gospel  by  St.  John:"Sir,  we 
would  see  Jesus."  The  spirit  of  preaching  came  upon  me  and 
when  about  two-thirds  through  the  sermon,  there  was  a  dis- 
play of  divine  power  that  I  have  never  witnessed  before  nor 
since.  I  felt  like  my  feet  would  leave  the  floor  of  the  stand 
so  that  I  involuntarily  grasped  the  book-board.  In  looking 
over  the  congregation  I  saw  many  falling  from  their  seats. 
Some  were  shouting  aloud,  while  others  were  crying  as  loud 
for  mercy.  I  called  fV)r  mourners  and  it  appeared  to  me  as 
if  the  whole  congi-egation  was  trying  to  get  into  the  altar, 


40  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

and  such  was  their  eagerness  to  get  there  that  thej  paid  but 
little  attention  to  the  manner  in  which  thej  came,  for  they 
fell  over  the  benches  or  whatever  came  in  their  way,  and  on 
leaving  the  stand,  the  Presiding  Elder,  who  had  taken  his 
seat  in  the  altar,  said  to  me,  "I  have  been  in  the  regular 
work  twenty-five  years,  but  have  never  witnessed  such  a 
work  nor  such  a  scene."  So  wonderful  was  the  effect  that 
some  of  the  brethern  searched  to  see  how  many  there  were 
that  were  not  penitents.  The  result  of  the  investigation  was, 
that  only  three  could  be  found,  and  only  one  of  these  was  in 
the  congregation  at  the  time  of  preaching.  A  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son, who  had  been  seeking  religion  nineteen  years,  and  was 
in  despair,  remained  in  her  tent.  The  description  of  another 
one  was  an  old  decrepit  lady  that  remained  in  some  one  of 
the  tents.  The  description  of  the  other,  if  I  heard  it,  I  have 
forgotten.  The  work  went  on,  no  stopping  for  supper.  The 
shout  of  "Glory !"'  often  mingling  with  cries  for  mercy.  The 
fame  of  the  meeting  spread  rapidly  among  the  dense  popula- 
tion of  the  community,  and  as  night  drew  on  the  aurora  bor- 
ealis  presented  the  most  remarkable  phenomenon  that  had 
been  witnessed  for  many  years.  The  whole  northern  hemis- 
phere appeared  almost  as  red  as  if  on  fire,  and  some  of  the 
red  rays  shot  up  even  to  the  very  zenith.  This  remarkable 
phenomenon  and  the  extraordinary  work  M^hich  was  progres- 
sing filled  many  of  the  people  with  wonder  and  astonishment, 
and  some  seemed  to  think  that  the  day  of  judgment  was  at 
hand. 

I  never  knew  a  people  to  manifest  such  anxiety  for  preach- 
ing. They  came  to  the  preachers  tent,  but  in  crowds,  urging 
most  importunately  the  Presiding  Elder  to  have  preaching, 
but  he  told  them  that  was  impossible,  as  no  man  could  preach 
in  such  a  storm.  But  this  did  not  satisfy  them,  for  they  con- 
tinued to  come,  urging  their  pleas  for  preaching.  A  little  be- 
fore midnight,  the  Presiding  Elder  asked  me  if  I  could  preach 
again,  if  silence  could  be  procured.  I  simply  replied,  ''I  can 
try,  if  you  desire  it."  He  then  ordered  the  trumpet  to  be 
sounded  and  proclamation  to  be  made  that  there  would  be 
preaching,  if  the  people  could  be  quiet  enough  to  hear.  This 
was  done,  and  the  people  became  quiet  enough  to  justify  the 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  41 

attempt  to  prcafli  aiul  just  at  tlu-  hour  of  uiiJuiglil  1  com- 
meiiced  preaching,  nor  do  1  think  I  ever  \vitucss[ed]  such  an 
aiLxietv  to  hear.  The  crowd  was  innuen.se,  there  were  nianv 
more  than  the  seats  could  contain  ;  though  many  stood — there 
were  none  walking  idly  about.  The  effect  was  overwhelming, 
and  many  were  the  slain  of  the  Lord.  Soon  after  the  sermon 
was  over,  I  was  comi)elled  to  retire  for  some  rest,  but  I  believe 
the  work  went  on  without  intermission  during  the  whole 
night.  Soon  the  morning  dawned — it  was  Wednesday,  and 
our  horses  were  brought  according  to  order.  According  to 
previous  arrangement,  brother  Jackson  and  I  were  to  meet 
my  brother  at  twelve  o'clock  in  Hillsboro,  which  was  about 
seventeen  miles  distant  from  the  camp-ground.  After  break- 
fast, we  packed  up,  bade  the  preachers  farewell,  and  left  the 
preachers  tent,  but  my  horse  was  missing.  I  asked  some  gen- 
tlemen standing  by  if  they  knew^  what  had  become  of  my 
horse.  One  replied,  "I  do,  for  I  saw  a  man  take  him  away, 
and  he  directed  me  to  tell  you  that  you  will  not  get  him  today. 
But  give  yourself  no  uneasiness  about  him,  he  Avill  be  well 
taken  care  of  and  will  be  here  tomorrow  morning,  shod  all 
round."  I  then  requested  brother  Jackson  to  go  on  and  meet 
my  brother  and  tell  him  what  had  occurred  and  to  go  with 
him,  and  I  would  next  day  go  a  near  way  and  still  reach  the 
place  in  time  for  the  marriage.  The  work  progressed  wifh- 
out  intennission  and  many  were  the  converts,  but  I  know  not 
the  exact  number,  but  it  was  suppos[ed]  there  were  more  than 
200.  I  gave  orders  for  my  horse  to  be  brought  next  morning 
by  light.  I  ate  breakfast  by  candle-light,  and  my  horse  hav- 
ing been  brought*  according  to  order,  I  again  bade  the  preach- 
ers farewell,  but  to  my  surprise,  when  I  went  out  to  start  my 
horse  again  was  gone  and  I  was  informed  that  I  would  see 
him  no  more  that  day.  Consequently  I  was  compelled  to  give 
up  going  to  the  wedding,  and  I  continued  at  tljc  meeting 
through  another  day  and  night.  I  gave  directions  to  have  my 
horse  brought,  and  not  to  take  him  away  again,  as  I  had  to 
reach  an  appointment  for  preaching,  not  for  a  wedding.  My 
horse  w^as  brought  according  to  direction  and  I  left  the  camp- 
ground on  Friday  morning,  but  the  meeting  still  went  on. 
Though  I  have  never  heard  the  exact  iiunilx-r  of  converts,  vet 


42  Autobiography  of  BRA^'TLEY  York. 

the  number  must  have  been  considerable,  and  all  told  1  have 
never  witnessed  such  a  work. 

As  the  conference  year  began  to  draw  to  a  close,  I  was  fre- 
quently solicited,  and  even  importuned,  to  join  the  approach- 
ing conference.  I  simply  replied  to  these  soilcitations  that 
there  was  one  inseparable  ditiiculty  in  the  way — that  I  had 
no  horse  nor  had  I  any  money  with  which  to  purchase  one, 
nor  was  I  able  to  procure  a  suitable  outfit.  But  this  difficuRy 
was  soon  removed,  as  one  brother  offered  to  furnish  a  horse, 
and  others  offered  to  furnish  the  money  to  procure  an  outfit. 
I^ow,  as  this  difiiculty  was  removed,  though  I  did  not  feel 
altogether  as  clear  as  could  be  desired,  I  consented  to  offer 
myself  to  the  conference,  and  as  I  entertained  no  doubt  of 
being  accepted,  I  requested  my  employers  to  allow  me  to  wind 
up  the  school  which  I  was  teaching  at  Piney  Grove  at  the  end 
of  nine  months,  instead  of  twelve,  for  which  I  had  consented 
to  teach.  This  was  granted  and  I  held  an  examination  at 
the  close  of  nine  months.  Brother  Ahi  Robins  had  brought 
his  oldest  son,  Wm.  M.  Robins,  who  had  attended.  Brother 
Robins  and  Lewis  Leach,  Esq.,  attended  the  examination, 
and  as  they  were  highly  pleased  with  the  result  of  the  exami- 
nation, they  strongly  solicited  me  to  take  charge  of  a  school 
in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  Trinity  College,  but  to  this  re- 
quest I  could  give  no  definite  answer  as  I  had  consented  to 
join  Conference  the  fourth  Quarterly  meeting,  which  was  to 
be  held  at  Ebenezer  Church,  and  was  now  approaching.  At 
this  Quarterly  Conference  I  was  unanimously  recommended 
as  a  suitable  person  to  join  conference  and  also  for  Deacon's 
orders. 

This  Annual  Conference  was  held  in  the  town  of  Greens- 
boro, and  was  not  held  till  the  first  da}'  of  January,  1838. 
The  reason  of  this  was,  the  Virginia  and  Xorth  Carolina  con- 
ference had  consented  to  divide,  and  form  a  North  Carolina 
Conference,  but  this  could  not  be  done  till  after  the  session  of 
the  Virginia  Conference,  which  was  held  in  Petersburg. 
This  was  held  so  late  that  the  first  could  not  be  held  in  *37, 
but  was  held  early  in  '38.  At  the  Quarterly  conference  al- 
ready referred  to  brother  Jackson  was  also  recommended  to 
the  Annual  Conference.    Brother  Jackson  and  myself  reached 


AUTOBIOGKAPJIY    OF    BrANTLEY    YoiCK.  43 

the  eoiifVrciice  on  Friday  ovciiing.  J>rother  Porvis  was  the 
pivachir  in  charge  and  met  ns  kindly,  informing  nie  that  1 
liad  licen  cli  ctcd  to  Deacon's  orders,  and  condneted  us  to  the 
])hu*e  assigned  for  onr  entertainment.  On  Snnday  I  Avas 
ordained  Deacon  by  Bishu})  Morris. 

My  brother-in-hiw,  John  Bond,  who  was  the  class  leader 
at  Pleasant  Garden  Church,  had  become  dissatisfied  concern- 
ing a  ])revious  settlement  between  ourselves.  Bond  had  been 
notified  t(t  attend  this  conference  in  order  to  have  the  settle- 
ment adjusted  by  a  connnittte  of  preachers;  for  he  had  unad- 
visedly complained  to  sevei-al  preachers  that  he  had  reasons 
to  believe  that  1  had  wronged  him  in  the  settlement.  He  came 
to  conference  on  Saturday,  but  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to 
go  into  the  settlement  of  this  difficulty;  but  i)romised  to  re- 
turn on  Monday  and  attend  to  it.  According  to  promise  he 
came  on  Monday,  a  committee  of  investigation  had  been  ap- 
])ointed,  perhaps,  on  Saturday,  but  we  could  not  prevail  on 
him  to  go  into  the  settlement  even  on  Monday,  alleging,  per- 
haps as  an  excuse,  that  he  was  not  ready ;  but  as  he  was  start- 
ing away  on  Monday  the  P.  E.  met  him,  and  told  him  if  he 
did  not  stay  and  attend  to  that  business  that  he  would  have 
a  charge  of  slander  preferred  against  him.  I  had  given  up 
all  hope  of  getting  the  matter  adjusted  and  had  gone  in  to 
hear  the  missionary  address  on  Monday  night,  but  before  the 
meeting  was  opened,  someone  touched  [me]  and  beckon  [ed] 
for  me  to  go  to  the  door.  It  was  Brother  Bond  who  had  re- 
turned to  attend  to  the  settlement.  The  committee  of  preach- 
ers, which  consisted  of  three,  Brother  Bond  and  myself,  went 
into  a  room  in  the  court  house  to  attend  to  the  settlement, 
when  the  previous  settlement  was  laid  Ix'fore  the  committee, 
and  after  a  full,  somewhat  labored  and  lengthy  investigation, 
the  matter  was  adjusted,  and  Bond  fell  several  dollars  in  my 
debt,  instead  of  T  in  his.  The  minutes  of  the  investigation 
were  preserved,  and  Bond  admitted  that  they  were  correct, 
and  that  the  settlement  was  satisfactory  to  him. 

Early  the  next  morning  the  P.  E.  applied  to  know  the  re- 
sult. He  was  duly  informed  by  the  eonnnittee  and  the  papers 
handed  to  him.  He  appeared  highly  pleased  and  remarked 
"all  is  right,"  or  something  like  it.     Soon  after  the  confer- 


44  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

ence  had  set  on  Tuesday  morning,  I  was  called  into  the  con- 
ference room,  and  requested  to  make  some  statements  with 
[respect]  to  the  scientific  and  literary  attainments  of  brother 
Jackson,  and  also  in  regard  to  his  gifts  and  graces  as  a 
preacher.  As  soon  as  I  had  made  these  statements,  knowing 
that  my  recomendation  would  be  presented  as  soon  as  Jack- 
son's case  was  disposed  of,  the  P.  E.  having  presented  my  rec- 
ommendations, some  preacher  inquired  whether  the  difficulty 
between  Bond  and  me  had  been  settled.  To  this  the  P.  E. 
replied,  "It  has,  but  I  do  not  positively  know."  He  then 
asked  the  conference  to  indulge  him  a  few  minutes  till  he 
could  see  me.  He  searched  but  did  not  find  me,  returning 
more  confused  than  ever.  Then,  on  his  own  responsibility, 
he  withdrew  the  recommendation.  It  is  proper  to  remark 
here  that  the  P.  E.  had  been  subject  for  some  time  to  some 
occasional  obliquities,  and  during  the  paroxysms  he  ap- 
peared to  have  no  memory.  He  told  me  some  two  years  after 
that  he  carried  the  papers  handed  him  that  morning  in  his 
hat  for  twelve  months  without  knowing  what  they  were.  As 
soon  as  the  news  of  the  result  reached  him,  I  informed  those 
brethren  that  were  waiting,  from  the  nighborhood  of  Trinity 
CoUge,  that  I  would  teach  the  school  they  desired,  as  I  was 
now  satisfied  with  regard  to  the  call  to  the  work  in  the  con- 
ference, and  without  inquiring  of  anyone  as  to  the  cause  of 
my  recommendation  being  withdrawn,  I  called  for  my  horse 
and  left,  in  company  with  several  of  the  brethren  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Trinity  College,  who  appeared  to  be  highly 
pleased  at  the  result.  This,  however,  was  no  doubt  caused  by 
their  anxiety  for  the  school. 


CHAPTER  X- 

The  Origin  of  Trinity  College. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1837,  I  was  invited  by  sev- 
eral gentlemen  in  the  neighborhood  of  Trinity  College  to 
teach  a  school  in  that  community;  after  some  deliberation,  I 
consented. 

*Tliis  Chapter  was  written  in  1S79  (Editor.) 


AuTOBioGRAniY  OF  Bra^tley  York.  45 

Early  in  the  spring:  of  1S38,  I  opened  a  school  in  a  house 
known  as  Bro^n^s  Schoolhouse.  This  hous  was  located 
abont  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  place  where  Trinity 
CV>llei;e  now  stands.  It  was  a  very  inferior  building,  built  of 
round  logs,  and  covered  with  common  boards.  The  floor  was 
laid  with  puncheons  and  slabs.  The  chimney  was  made  of 
wood  with  a  little  or  no  clay  in  it,  tapering  up  in  the  form  of 
a  partridge  trap.  The  hearth  was  dirt,  and  the  whole  in  bad 
repair;  for,  when  it  rained,  it  was  with  difficulty  that  the 
books  and  paper  could  be  kept  dry.  This  house  was  entirely 
too  small  to  accommodate  the  students,  consequently  we  were 
necessitated  to  erect  a  bush  arbor  in  front  of  the  south  door, 
and  part  of  the  students  were  under  the  arbor  and  part  in 
the  house. 

As  soon  as  the  farmers  had  laid  by  their  crops,  the  citizens 
met  in  order  to  select  a  place  to  build  a  better  house.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  (as  well  as  I  recollect)  to  select  a  suit- 
able site ;  and  after  examining  several  places,  the  place  where 
Trinity  College  now  stands  was  finally  chosen  as  the  most 
convenient  situation,  and  in  a  few  weeks  a  log  building  30 
by  20  feet  was  erected. 
"  Early  in  the  month  of  August,  we  moved  from  Brown's 
Schoolhouse  to  the  one  just  completed.  We  commenced 
teaching  in  this  new  building  with  sixty-nine  students.  It 
was  soon  ascertained  that  this  building,  though  much  larger 
and  far  superior  to  the  one  we  had  just  left,  was  inadequate 
to  accommodate  our  present  number  of  students. 

The  first  examination  held  in  this  new  building  ^vas  in 
the  spring  of  1839.  Previous  to  this  examination,  I  had  re- 
solved to  attempt  to  establish  a  permanent  institution  of 
learning  at  this  place,  based  upon  an  Educational  Association, 
and  with  a  view  of  reaching  the  common  walks  of  life  with  a 
more  thorough  education  than  had  been  previously  afforded 
them.  I  consulted  one  man  only,  namely,  Mr.  Jabez  Leach 
with  regard  to  this  plan,  previous  to  the  examination.  Dur- 
ing the  examination,  which  lasted  two  days,  I  was  requested 
by  several  citizens  to  deliver  a  public  lecture;  the  time  fixed 
upon  for  it  was  the  second  day,  immediately  after  dinner. 
My  theme  was,  ''The  importance  of  establishing  a  perma- 


46      Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

uent  institution  of  learning  of  high  grade  at  this  place." 
The  lecture  having  closed,  I  presented  the  plan  I  had  previ- 
ously arranged,  which  was  approved  by  all.  A  subscription 
was  then  taken  up  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  suitable 
building,  and  between  three  and  four  hundred  dollars  were 
then  subscribed.  A  Committee  consisting  of  three,  viz. :  Gen- 
eral Alexander  Gray,  J.  M.  Leach  and  the  writer,  was  ap- 
pointed to  draft  a  Constitution  and  By  Laws  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Association.  The  meeting  then  adjourned,  to 
meet  some  ten  or  twelve  days  hence,  at  which  time  the  com- 
mittee was  requested  to  report. 

UNION  INSTITUTE  EDUCATIONAL  SOCIETY. 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  met 
at  the  place  designated  in  order  to  organize  an  Educational 
Society,  and  to  do  such  other  things  as  might  be  deemed  im- 
portant in  advancing  the  interest  of  the  Institution.  Up  to 
this,  the  Institution  had  been  a  '"local  habitation,"  but  no 
name.  The  Principal  of  the  School  was  requested  to  give  it 
a  name.  The  name  which  he  gave  it  was  Union  Institute, 
which  name  it  held  till  it  became  formal  College.  The  In- 
stitution was  located  between  two  populous  neighborhoods, 
the  one  on  the  south  called  Hopewell,  the  inhabitation  of 
which  were  generally  Methodists;  the  other  on  the  north, 
Springfield,  whose  inhabitants  were  principally  Quakers. 
The  object  in  naming  it  LTnion  Institute  was  to  unite  these 
two  neighborhoods  in  the  interest  of  the  school.  This  was 
happily  effected. 

The  committee  appointed  to  draft  a  Constitution  reported ; 
each  member  had  drawn  a  draft  separately,  and  from  these 
several  drafts  a  Constitution  had  been  formed  and  was  now 
ado})ted.  The  Association  thus  formed,  was  denominated 
Union  Institute  Educational  Society.  General  Alexander 
Gray  was  chosen  President;  J.  M.  Leach,  Esq.,  Secrcetary. 
The  names  of  the  other  officers  [are]  not  recollected.  The 
Priiicii)al  of  the  school  (B.  York)  was  requested  to  act  as 
Agent  for  the  Society. 

The  Society  resolved  to  erect  a  frame  building  fifty  fe(>t 
by  twenty-five,  one-story,  with  an  eight  feet  passage  through 


AUTOBIOGKAI'IIY    OF    BliANTLEY    YOUK.  47 

the  center,  dividing  the  building  into  two  rooms  of  equal 
size,  each  room  to  have  t\V(j  tire-plaei's.  The  rooms  were 
entered  from  doors  opening  from  the  passage.  A  building 
committee  was  now  chosen  to  carry  into  effect  the  resolution 
of  the  Society. 

The  Constitution  ^jrovided  that  the  Principal  and  all  the 
othcers  of  the  Society  should  be  elected  annually  l)v  l)allot. 

This  organization  was  the  beginning  or  origin  of  what  is 
now  Trinity  College. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1839,  was  set  apart  by  the  Educa- 
tional Society  for  laying  the  corner-stone  of  the  proposed 
building.  On  that  occasion  a  large  concourse  of  people  as- 
sembled and  were  addressed  by  Julian  E.  Leach,  Esq.,  J. 
M.  Leach,  Esq.,  and  the  principal  of  the  institution. 

This  was  a  day  of  feasting  and  gladness,  full  of  hope  and 
prospect. 

The  work  was  soon  connnenccd  and  before  cold  weather  the 
building  was  completed,  and  the  school  removed  into  it,  and 
the  former  building  was  occupied  by  the  Principal  and  his 
family.  The  Institution  was  now  in  a  tlourishing  condition, 
and  in  the  new  building  the  students  found  ample  room  and 
excellent  accommodation.  Sometime  in  the  spring  of  1840, 
date  not  recollected,  the  Union  Institute  Educational  Society 
held  its  annual  meeting.  At  this  meeting  two  candidates, 
the  present  Principal  and  Rev.  Eranklin  Harris,  offered  their 
services  as  principal.  The  election  resulted  in  the  re-election 
of  the  former  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote,  only  one  against. 

In  the  spring  of  1841,  the  Educational  Society  held  its 
third  annual  meeting.  Two  candidates  again  offered  their 
services,  namely,  the  former  principal  and  ^Ir.  John  1). 
Clancy.  The  former  Princij)al  was  re-elected  by  a  very  large 
majority  (only  two  vote  for  Clancy). 

During  this  year  the  Rev.  Braxton  Craven,  a  young  man 
of  some  nineteen  or  twenty,  entered  the  school,  and  soon  after 
was  employed  as  an  assistant  teacher,  and  continued  to  offi- 
ciate in  that  capacity  till  the  resignation  of  the  Principal. 
The  school  continued  to  flourish;  the  nundjer  of  students 
never  falling  under  fifty,  but  it  generally  far  exceeded  that 
number. 


48  AUT0BI0C4RAPHY    OF    BrANTLEY    YoRK. 

Early  in  the  year  1842,  I  (the  principal)  was  elected  the 
Principal  of  Clemonsville  High  School,  male  and  female ; 
and,  for  reasons  which  will  be  given  hereafter,  accepted  the 
position.  In  due  time  notice  was  given  to  the  Educational 
Society  that  I  would  not  be  a  candidate  at  their  next  annual 
meeting. 

According  to  the  arrangement  made  between  Mr.  Craven 
and  myself,  he  was  to  go  with  me  to  Clemonsville  and  still 
officiate  as  assistant  teacher,  but  as  the  time  drew  near  for 
the  election  of  another  Principal,  and  no  caudidate  offered  his 
services,  some  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Society  inquired 
of  me  as  to  the  fitness  of  Mr.  Craven  for  the  principalship. 
Though  I  was  anxious  for  him  to  go  with  me,  yet  such  were 
his  studious  habits  and  his  ability  to  learn,  that  I  willingly 
recommended  him  as  a  suitable  person  for  that  position ;  con- 
sequently he  was  chosen  principal  at  the  ensuing  election 
and  has  continued  there  from  that  time  till  the  present  (June 
20,  1876),  except  two  years  during  the  war,  during  which 
time  he  was  stationed  in  Raleigh,  Edenton  Street  Church. 

So  faithfully  and  ably  has  Mr.  Craven  discharged  the 
duties  thus  devolved  upon  him  that  the  most  sanguine  expec- 
tations concerning  him  have  been  more  than  realized,  and 
Trinity  College  today  ranks  among  the  best  literary  institu- 
tions of  the  country. 

THE    ASPIRAIVT    TEACHERS. 

Mr.  Isaiah  Ingold  was  my  first  assistant  teacher.  He  of- 
ciated  in  this  capacity  for  the  greater  part  of  1838.  Miss 
Irena  Leach,  now  Mrs.  Braxton  Craven,  succeeded  him,  and 
continued  to  render  such  aid  as  was  needed,  till  Mr.  Craven 
was  employed  in  that  capacity,  as  has  already  been  noticed. 
The  school  during  its  academical  career  was  both  male  and 
female. 

WHY    I    LEFT    UNION. 

There  were  reasons  sufficiently  strong  for  my  resignation 
to  satisfy  my  own  mind  that  the  course  pursued  was  proper, 
though  I  do  not  know  that  it  would  be  of  any  practical  utility 
to  the  public  for  these  reasons  to  be  disclosed.     But  because  I 


AuTOBIOGKArJIY    OF    BliANTLEY    YoRK.  49 

could  not  hold  my  position  any  longer  was  not,  as  some  have 
intimated,  any  i)art  of  the  reason  why  I  left;  for  I  was  re- 
peatedly and  strongly  urged  to  continue;  nor  was  it  a  decline 
of  patronage,  for  this  was  not  the  case.  The  work  of  the 
four  years  spent  at  Union  Institute  was  truly  onerous,  my 
faculties,  both  mental  and  physical  having  been  taxed  to  their 
utmost  capacity.  I  not  only  had  a  large  school  to  superin- 
tend, but,  also  as  agent,  had  the  funds  to  collect  for  carrying 
on  the  w^ork,  and,  then,  I  was  hearing  recitations  on  four  sub- 
jects which  I  had  not  studied,  consequently  I  was  neces- 
sitated to  prepare  at  night  for  the  recitations  of  the  next  day. 
It  was  there  and  then  that  my  vision  began  to  fail,  and  from 
that  time  till  now  I  have  had  to  contend  with  defective  vision 
or  total  hlindness. 

I  have  written  this  hasty  sketch  entirely  from  memory, 
having  no  statistics  at  hand ;  consequently  there  may  be  some 
slight  errors  as  to  terms  and  dates,  but  I  believe  the  general 
statements  are  substantilly  true.  There  may  be  found,  I 
suppose,  in  the  archives  of  Trinity  College,  the  Secretary's 
book,  which  contains  the  proceedings  of  Union  Institute 
Society  from  its  first  organization  in  1839  till  my  resigim- 
tion. 


CHAPTER  XL 

Clemonsville — Itinerant  Teaching — Olin  High 

School — Blindness — Cakeer  as  Author — York 

Collegiate  Institute. 

Early  in  the  year  '42  I  was  elected  principal  of  Clemons- 
ville  High  School,  male  and  female,  and  after  some  delibera- 
tion accepted  ;  consequently  I  wound  up  my  business  at  Union 
Institute  at  the  close  of  the  spring  session,  resigning  my  posi- 
tion in  the  school  as  principal,  refusing  a  re-election,  though 
earnestly  solicited  and  recommended  Dr.  Craven,  then  a 
young  man  about  twenty  years  of  age  as  a  suitable  person  to 
take  my  place  which  I  had  resigned.  Early  in  the  month  of 
April,  I  opened  my  first  session  at  Clemonsville ;  the  session 


50      Autobiography  of  Bkantley  York. 

was  prosperous,  opening  with  about  forty  students.  !N^ear  the 
close  of  this  session  the  Asthma,  with  which  I  had  been  afflic- 
ted for  several  years,  seemed  to  reach  its  climax,  insomuch 
that  my  life  was  despaired  of  by  my  family  physicians,  their 
remedies  all  having  failed.  They  had  used  the  most  active 
emetics  known  to  the  medical  science,  but  without  effect. 
But  a  simple  remedy  succeeded,  and  appeared  to  save  my 
life.  Mrs.  York,  learning  my  danger,  drew  hot  embers  from 
the  fireplace,  and  sprinkling  water  on  them  and  wrapping 
them  up  in  a  cloth,  applied  it  to  my  breast  and  stomach.  This 
seemed  to  imjDart  sufficient  vitality  to  enable  the  emetics  to 
operate,  giving  me  a  speedy  relief. 

During  the  session  I  generally  preached  twice  on  every 
Sabbath,  and  not  infrequently  I  was  called  out  of  town  to 
preach  funeral  sermons  on  other  days.  I  generally  preached 
in  the  country  in  the  day,  and  in  tovm  at  night.  At  the  close 
of  the  first  session  my  health  was  such  it  was  thought  best  for 
me  to  take  some  recreation  in  traveling,  during  which  time  I 
attended  a  camp  meeting  in  Rowan  County  at  a  place  called 
South  River  Campground.  From  Mocksville  we  were  ac- 
companied by  the  Rev.  Baxter  Clegg,  the  principal  of  Mocks- 
ville  Academy.  He  was  very  kind  to  us  and  offered  much 
assistance,  as  our  horse  was  baulky  and  often  refused  to  pull. 
We  reached  the  campground  about  twelve  o'clock  Saturday 
and  weak  and  fatigued  as  I  was,  I  was  appointed  to  preach 
on  Saturday  evening;  but  should  doubtless  have  failed  had  I 
not  been  relieved  by  a  heavy  shower  of  rain.  But  I  rested 
better  than  usual  on  the  following  night,  and  was  so  refreshed 
that  I  preached  at  eleven  o'clock  on  Sunday  to  a  very  large 
audience.  The  attention  of  the  audience  was  unusually  good, 
and  the  effect  was  so  powerful,  that  it  is  said  by  a  close  ob- 
server that  there  was  not  a  dry  eye  in  the  congregation.  As 
I  came  out  of  the  stand,  I  was  met  by  a  well-dressed  gentle- 
man, who  introduced  himself  fo  me  as  the  High  Sheriff"  of 
the  county.  He  remarked  to  me,  ''T  have  been  a  very  wicked 
man,  but  your  sermon  has  enabled  me  to  resolve  to  be  a  better 
man.  I  want  you  to  pray  for  me."  On  the  next  day  when  I 
preached  he  presented  himself  at  the  altar  as  a  penitent,  and 
on  the  following  day  professed  conversion.    He  urged  me  im- 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  51 

portunately  to  go  to  Salisbury  and  preach.  I  consented, 
tbouiili  my  health  was  not  good.  I  went  and  continued  to 
preach  for  ten  days — not  without  effect,  for  the  Lord  was 
certainly  with  us  to  bless  the  word.  Salisbury  at  this  time 
was  only  an  appointment  on  a  circuit,  wnth  but  a  small  mem- 
bership. Soon  after,  it  became  a  station,  and  has  so  continued 
ever  since.  The  time  was  now  drawing  near  when  the  next 
session  must  open.  We  returned  to  Clemonsville  with  my 
health  somewhat  improved.  The  second  session  opened  well. 
There  were  several  boarders  from  Salisbury,  Geraianton  and 
many  other  places.  Miss  AiUgelina  demons  was  my  assist- 
ant during  this  session.  During  the  session  a  very  interest 
ing  debating  club  was  organized,  composed  of  citizens  and 
students ;  not  only  citizens  of  the  town  but  also  of  the  sur 
rounding  country.  We  also  organizeed  a  temperance  society 
which  prospered  during  my  stay  in  Clemonsville.  Regular 
meetings  were  held  and  addresses  were  frequently  delivered, 
and  much  good  no  doubt  was  the  result.  My  plan  of  preach 
ing  was  about  as  during  the  former  session.  The  session 
closed  a  little  before  Christmas.  The  classes  were  examined 
before  the  trustees.  We  also  had  some  declamations  and  dia 
logues  with  wdiich  the  trustees  and  all  others  as  far  as  I  know 
were  well  plased.  After  a  vacation  of  some  two  weeks,  early 
in  January,  we  opened  the  spring  session.  The  session  opened 
prosperously.  During  this  session  the  Rev.  Henry  Speck, 
P.  C,  of  the  Davidson  circuit,  bought  a  lot  in  Clemonsville, 
and  moved  his  family,  for  educational  purposes ;  also  the 
Rev.  Jno.  W.  Lewis,  (who)  was  the  P.  C.  of  the  Stokes  Cir- 
cuit, to  which  Clemonsville  belonged.  This  session  closed 
early  in  June.  We  had  a  two  days'  examination  for  the  vari- 
ous classes  in  the  school.  We  also  had  an  exhibition  of  no 
little  interest  at  night.  Complimentary  remarks  were  made 
by  several  gentlemen  at  the  close;  but  no  regular  address  or 
sermon.  This  was  seldom  done  in  those  days,  if  ever.  Dur- 
ing the  vacation  I  visited  various  places,  and  attended  some 
two  or  three  camp  meetings. 

We  had  generally  much  preaching  in  the  chapel  by  brother 
Lewis,  the  P.  C,  by  brother  Speck  occasionally,  by  brother 
Joshua  Bethel,  a  superannuated  preacher,  who  lived  in  the 


52  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

place.  I  generally  preached  every  Sunday  night  and  we  fre- 
quently had  sermons  from  preachers  who  were  transient 
visitors;  but  notwithstanding  all  this  preaching  the  people 
appeared  to  be  unusually  hard,  though  they  were  a  church- 
going  people ;  hence  the  preachers  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  they  were  gospel  hardened,  and  that  preaching  would 
only  aggi-avate  their  condemnation.  Hence,  in  council  they 
resolved  to  stop  preaching,  except  the  P.  C.  must  necessarily 
preach  at  his  regular  appointment.  I  however  was  not  in 
the  council  and  was  ignorant  of  the  result  of  their  delibera- 
tions, being  out  of  town  at  the  time.  It  was  agreed  that 
Brother  Bethel  should  preach  on  Sunday  following  at  eleven 
o'clock,  and  inform  the  people  of  their  resolution  to  cease 
preaching  to  them,  believing  it  would  prove  a  curse  instead  of 
a  blessing.  On  the  same  Sunday  I  preached  to  a  congrega- 
tion in  the  country.  As  I  rode  into  town  that  evening,  I  was 
hailed  by  Brother  Bethel,  who  informed  me  of  the  resolution 
which  the  preachers  had  gone  into,  and  advised  me  also  to 
cease  preaching  to  them,  and  not  to  have  the  bell  rung  that 
evening,  as  he  had  told  the  people  there  would  be  no  more 
preaching,  only  by  the  P.  C.  In  reply  I  said,  "brother 
Bethel,  I  cannot  go  into  that  arrangement,  as  I  have  learned 
my  lesson  differently.  I  understand  from  the  bible  that  we 
as  watchmen  are  to  cry  aloud  and  spare  not — to  preach  to  the 
people  whether  they  hear  or  forbear,  and  to  be  instant  in 
season  and  out  of  season."  Brother  Bethel  replied  '.'Then 
you  will  preach  to  no  purpose,  and  j'our  work  will  be  in  vain." 
The  bell  was  rung  at  the  proper  time,  and  an  unusual  con- 
gregation assembled.  The  chapel  was  almost  literally  packed. 
I  took  for  my  text,  "Owe  no  man  anything  but  to  love  one 
another."  The  audience  listened  with  unusual  interest.  To- 
wards the  close  of  my  sermon  I  remarked,  "I  understand 
that  the  other  preachers  have  given  you  up,  believing  that 
preaching  would  be  .a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing  and  I  sup- 
pose they  were  sincere  and  honest ;  but  this  I  cannot  do,  I  will 
not  do.  I  will  not  cease  preaching  and  praying  for  you  till  I 
know  that  the  door  of  mercy  is  closed  against  you."  This 
moved  the  whole  audience,  and  a  powerful  revival  broke  out, 
which  resulted  in  perhaps  one  hundred  converts.    The  preach- 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  53 

ers,  though  a  little  slow,  gnulnally  entered  into  the  work  and 
all  went  on  harmoniously. 

The  fall  session  of  '43  opened  early  in  August.  At  the 
opening  of  this  session,  Mr.  Erasmus  Burkit  entered  school 
and  became  my  assistant  teacher  for  some  three  sessions. 
The  school  still  flourished,  and  was  perhaps  fuller  this  session 
than  it  had  been  at  any  previous  one.  The  girls  and  boys 
recited  in  separate  rooms — the  girls  reciting  to  me  and  most 
of  the  boys  to  Mr.  Burkit.  Some  of  the  trustees  according 
to  an  arrangement  made  by  themselves,  visited  the  school 
every  Friday  afternoon  when  the  students  were  briefly  ex- 
amined on  their  week's  work.  This  had  a  happy  effect,  as  it 
excited  the  students  to  greater  diligence  and  to  make  greater 
efforts.  I  preached  as  I  had  formerly  done,  and  delivered 
some  temperance  addresses  or  lectures.  The  fall  session 
closed  as  usual  a  little  before  Christmas.  On  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, '44,  the  spring  session  opened  and  the  school  was  still 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  During  this  session  I  formed  a 
gi-ammar  class  at  Midway,  which  I  met  every  other  Saturday. 
I  also  formed  another  at  Farmington  Davie  County  so  that 
my  time  was  fully  occupied  teaching  every  day  in  the  week, 
except  Sunday,  and  on  that  day  I  generally  preached  twice. 
This  session  closed  on  the  first  of  June,  and  the  examina- 
tions were  very  interesting  and  highly  approved.  During 
the  greater  portion  of  this  year  the  Methodist  church  was 
much  excited.  The  General  Conference  which  met  in  Xew 
York  sometime  in  May,  after  a  spirited  debate  on  the  ques- 
tion of  slavery  made  arrangements  for  separation  into  two 
General  Conferences,  and  as  the  terais  of  this  separation  had 
to  be  laid  by  the  P.  E.  before  a  Quarterly  Conference  of 
each  circuit  and  station  much  debate  and  excitement  pre- 
vailed ;  but  the  division  was  effected.  After  a  vacation  of 
some  two  months,  the  fall  session  of  '44  opened;  the  school 
was  still  in  a  flourishing  condition ;  no  radical  change  was 
made  in  the  regulation  of  my  preaching  during  the  session ; 
but  my  health  was  bad,  and  sometimes  my  whole  family  was 
dowii  with  the  chills  and  fever  at  the  same  time.  Chills  and 
fever,  and  bilious  fever  were  very  common  both  in  the  vil- 
lage and  the  surrounding  country.     My  vision  was  also  rap- 


54      Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

idly  failing.     A  little  before  Christmas  the  session  closed  as 
usual. 

Sometime  in  the  autumn  of  this  year  ('44)  Rev.  Henry 
Speck  P.  C.  of  the  Davidson  circuit  appointed  a  camp-meet- 
ing to  be  held  at  Midway  church  one  of  the  appointments 
on  his  circuit.  He  said  to  me,  ''brother  York  you  must 
without  fail  help  me  at  this  camp  meeting,  you  and  I  will  be 
the  P.  E.  Be  certain  to  be  there  on  Friday  evening,  and 
make  your  arrangements  so  that  you  can  remain  during  the 
meeting."  I  was  there  on  Friday  evening;  Brother  Speck 
was  not.  He  was  at  Lexington  very  sick,  and  on  Saturday 
evening  we  received  the  sad  intelligence  that  he  was  dead. 
This  news  caused  much  sorrow  in  the  camp.  The  manage- 
ment of  the  meeting  consequently  fell  on  me;  the  meeting 
was  a  success.  So  gi'cat  was  the  revival  that  the  meeting 
was  protracted  till  Thursday  morning,  and,  as  I  now  recol 
lect,  there  were  some  fifty  or  more  converts,  and  quite  a  num- 
ber joined  the  church.  The  circuit  remained  unoccupied 
during  the  balance  of  the  year. 

Early  in  January  ('45)  the  seventh  session  was  opened 
as  prosperously  as  ever,  and  closed  early  in  June.  With  a 
single  exception  we  had  the  severest  drought  that  I  ever 
knew.  The  corn  crop  on  upland  was  almost  an  entire  failure. 
The  fall  session  opened  early  in  August  as  usual.  My  gram- 
mar class  still  continued  at  Midway  with  increasing  num- 
bers. My  health  had  become  so  bad  and  my  vision  [was]  fail- 
ing so  fast  that  I  was  advised  to  give  up  the  schoolroom  and 
reading  as  much  as  possible.  I  had  almost  reached  the  con- 
clusion to  give  up  teaching ;  but  I  knew  not  what  to  follow  as 
a  livelihood.  The  present  session  having  closed,  I  consented 
to  continue  one  more  session.  The  ninth  session,  ('46)  op- 
ened early  in  January,  with  but  little  increase  or  dimunition 
of  students.  After  much  deliberation  and  consultation  I  re- 
solved to  resign  at  the  end  of  the  session,  and  there  seemed  to 
be  but  one  path  open  for  me,  and  that  was  to  adopt  an  itiner- 
ant system  of  teaching.  I  consulted  with  many  of  my  friends 
with  regard  to  the  probability  of  success  in  my  new  plan  of 
teaching,  and  the  general  expression  was  'Tt  looks  like  it 
might  succeed ;  but  it  is  an  untrodden  track — an  untried  sys- 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  55 

tem  ;  hoiiee  it  would  be  safer  and  more  likely  to  succeed  to 
continue  in  the  ordinary  system  of  teaching."  But  this  ap- 
peared to  me  to  be  the  next  door  to  the  impossible;  for  my 
health  was  so  feeble  and  my  vision  so  bad  that  let  the  conse- 
quences be  what  they  might,  I  must  leave  the  schoolroom.  The 
trustees  were  very  unwilling  to  give  nie  uj),  and  at  the  close  of 
the  session,  they  offered  to  double  my  wages  if  I  would  con- 
tinue ;  but  this  appeared  to  me  im})racticable ;  hence,  I  re- 
sigTied  my  position  as  princijial  of  the  school,  with  no  expecta- 
tion of  ever  engaging  in  a  regular  school  again. 

Soon  after  we  went  to  Clemonsville,  I  observed  that  the 
religious  instruction  of  the  slave  population  was  wholly  neg- 
lected. There  were  no  seats  prepared  for  them  in  the  chapel ; 
consequently  I  never  saw  a  negro  there  except  nurses,  and 
they  were  always  outdoors  with  the  children,  of  whom  they 
had  charge.  With  this  arrangement  I  was  much  dissatisfied 
consequently  I  visited  every  slave  holder  in  the  village  and 
reasoned  with  each  one  separately.  I  endeavored  to  convince 
them  that  they  were  responsible  for  the  religious  instruction 
of  their  own  slaves,  and  that  while  we  were  paying  money  to 
preach  to  the  negroes  in  Africa  we  were  utterly  neglecting 
those  over  whom  we  had  immediate  control.  They  appeared 
to  feel  the  force  of  the  argument,  but  did  not  know  how  to 
remedy  the  evil.  I  told  them  that  though  my  work  was  labor- 
ious I  w^ould  preach  to  the  negroes  every  other  Sunday  at 
three  o'clock  P.  M.  To  this  their  owners  readily  consented. 
As  soon  as  this  arrangement  was  known,  they  came  from  all 
the  surrounding  country  even  to  the  distance  of  eight  or  ten 
miles.  The  chapel  was  literally  packed  to  its  utmost  capac- 
ity. Soon  a  gracious  revival  broke  out,  and  of  the  fruits 
of  this  revival  a  class  was  formed  of  some  thirty-five  or  forty 
members,  and  I  was  appointed  their  leader,  and  I  ofliciated 
in  this  capacity  as  long  as  I  remained  with  them,  and  I  never 
knew  a  more  appreciative  people.  They  seemed  to  take  pleas- 
ure in  doing  anything  they  could  for  me. 

After  a  week  or  two's  rest,  I  set  out  with  a  view  to  put  into 
operation  the  plan  previously  formed.  From  the  proficiency 
made  by  the  classes  of  Midway  and  Fannington,  with  which 
I  spent  only  one  day  in  two  weeks,  I  was  fully  convinced  of 


56      Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

the  practicability  and  utility  of  this  method  of  imparting  in- 
struction, and  the  only  difficulty  now  that  remained  in  my 
mind  was  whether  I  could  convince  the  people  of  what  I  so 
firmly  believed.     In  order  to  get  before  the  people  I  sent  out 
appointments    in    various    places,    villages,    towns    and    the 
country,  that  at  a  specified  time  I  would  deliver  a  lecture  on 
education.     The  people  generally  turned  out  well  and  I  very 
seldom  failed  to  form  a  class  wherever  I  lectured.     In  this 
way,  I  formed  a  circuit  of  classes  or  grammar  schools  which 
required  two  weeks  to  visit  each  class  once  a  day,  though 
sometimes  where  the  classes  were  large  I  spent  two  days.    In 
most  places  where  I  had  classes  in  the  day  I  lectured  on  Elo- 
cution at  night,  and  generally  preached  several  times  on  each 
round.     The  people  generally  were  highly  pleased  with  the 
plan  and  very  readily  supported  the  schools,  though  some 
few  opposed.    The  lecturing  on  Elocution  and  Grammar  and 
the  preaching  produced  no  little  excitement  in  the  communi- 
ties, so  much  so  that  one  very  intelligent  lady  sought  an  in- 
troduction to  me  where  I  was  attending  a  camp-meeting  and 
said  as  she  approached  the  door  of  the  tent  in  which  I  was 
sitting,  "1  have  come  to  see  the  man  who  has  turned  the 
world  upside  down."     I  followed  this  plan  exclusively  for 
about  five  years,  and  I  am  fully  impressed  with  the  belief 
that  under  Providence  I  accomplished  more  for  education  and 
religion  than  in  any  other  period  of  my  life  of  the  same 
length;  for  hundreds  were  brought  into  contact  with  educa- 
tion, and  acquired  a  thirst  for  it,  and  acquired  the  habit  of 
studying  at  home,  who  could  not  obtain  an  education  in  the 
ordinary  way,  and  also  many  were  influenced  to  go  to  the 
regular  schools  of  the  country,  and  even  to  college;  for  as 
this  gave  them  a  taste  for  study  and  a  love  of  learning,  they 
were  not  satisfied  with  smaller  attainments.     I  also  preached 
more  frequently  than  I  could  have  done  in  any  regular  sta- 
tion or  school.     In  the  year  '48  I  preached  178  sermons,  and 
if  I  preached  as  many  each  year  as  I  did  this  year,  I  preached 
890  sermons  in  the  five  years. 

In  traveling  round  the  circuit  of  schools  in  two  weeks,  I 
generally  had  to  travel  about  two  hundred  miles,  and  gener- 
ally every  day  was  occupied  in  teaching  the  classes.     The 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  57 

time  occupied  in  teaching  was  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing to  three  and  a  half  or  four  in  the  evening  and  two  thirds 
of  the  night  at  least  were  occupied  either  in  teaching  Elocu- 
tion, Grammar  or  preaching,  I  generally  preached  twice  on 
Sunday,  and  sometimes  three  times;  but  notwithstanding  the 
immense  labor  which  I  had  to  perform,  my  general  health 
rapidly  improved.  My  pecuniary  income  was  greater  than  it 
ever  had  been  before.  During  the  winter  of  '46  and  '47  we 
left  Clemonsville,  and  moved  to  Jonesville,  Jonesville  being 
nearer  the  center  of  my  work,  a  much  more  healthy  location, 
and  also  there  was  a  good  academical  school  permanently 
located  at  this  place.  During  the  year  '47,  I  attended  several 
camp-meetings,  most  of  which  lay  within  the  boundary  of 
my  work.  At  some  of  these  meetings  there  was  an  unusual 
work.  At  Snow  Creek  in  Iredell  County,  the  P.  C.  Brother 
John  Tillet  said  there  were  something  over  three  hundred 
converts,  and  not  a  few  of  them  prominent  citizens.  At  this 
meeting,  I  preached  four  times:  at  Harmony  Hill,  a  union 
camp-meeting,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  professed  faith  in 
Christ.  At  this  camp-meeting  I  jjreached  five  times.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  '48  we  left  Jonesville,  and  moved  to 
Iredell  County  and  lived  at  a  place  then  called  James  Cross- 
roads, now  Keatons.  In  the  latter  part  of  this  year  I  at- 
tended a  session  of  the  E".  C.  Conference,  held  at  Danville, 
Va.,  and  was  there  ordained  Elder  by  Bishop  Capers. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  '49  I  visited  for  the  first  time 
Lenoir,  the  county  seat  of  Caldwell  County,  and  formed  a 
large  class  both  in  grammar  and  Elocution,  and  subsequently 
formed  classes  in  various  portions  of  this  county,  also  in 
Alexander  and  Burke. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  twenty  days'  session  we  commenced 
a  protracted  meeting.  We  had  Rev.  E.  L.  Abernethy  and 
two  Local  Preachers  living  in  the  town,  namely.  Brothers 
Pevet  and  Hevlen,  [but]  the  preacher  in  charge  Rev.  Paul 
Kistler,  w^as  absent.  We  commenced  preaching  on  Saturday 
night  and  at  eleven  o'clock  service  on  Sunday,  a  very  gracious 
revival  broke  out — not  less  than  twenty-five  or  thirty  peni- 
tents were  at  the  altar.  The  meeting  continued  through  the 
balance  of  the  week;  there  were  many  converts  but  the  precise 


58         AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  BrANTLEY  YoRK. 

number  not  recollected — in  truth,  the  town  was  almost  revol- 
utionized. At  the  opening  of  the  next  session  there  were 
sixty-two  students — more  than  I  could  well  manage. 

In  passing  from  Snow  Creek  to  Moriah  Church,  a  night 
class  was  formed  at  iSTesbit's  and  Turner's  tanyard.  This 
night  class  was  the  opening  wedge  to  the  establishment  of  the 
school  called  jSTew  Institute ;  several  years  later  the  name  was 
changed  to  Olin  High  School.  At  the  close  of  this  night 
school  a  day  class  was  formed  in  the  district  school  house,  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood.  During  this  school  I  was  fre- 
quently and  strongly  solicited  by  the  citizens  of  the  neigh- 
borhood generally  to  aid  them  in  establishing  a  permanent 
institution  of  high  grade  in  that  vicinity;  but  I  did  not  feel 
willing  to  abandon  my  itinerating  system ;  but  importunity 
finally  led  me  to  consent  to  devote  a  part  of  my  time  to  the 
building  of  the  institution  desired,  and  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  '50,  the  neighborhood  held  a  meeting  at  the  district 
schoolhouse  with  a  view  to  effect  a  permanent  organiza- 
tion upon  which  the  institution  was  to  be  based.  An  educa- 
tional association  was  organized  and  regularly  officered.  I 
was  elected  agent,  and  for  acting  in  that  capacity  I  was  to 
receive  25  per  cent  of  the  money  raised.  The  payment 
of  five  dollars  constituted  a  membership  for  life.  The  site 
finally  selected  for  the  location  of  the  institution  is  the  site 
now  occupied  by  Olin  High  School.  I  had  some  seven  or 
eight  classes  still  on  hand,  but  immediately  commenced  opera- 
tions as  agent,  devoting  all  the  time  I  could  to  it,  and  was 
very  successful,  for  the  people  generally  approved  of  the 
plan,  and  readily  subscribed. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  '50  we  left  the  Crossroads  and 
occupied  a  house  in  the  vicinity  of  New  Institute.  By  order 
of  the  educational  association,  three  houses  were  to  be  erected 
as  early  as  possible,  one  for  a  school-room,  and  two  for  Profes- 
sors ;  but  at  this  time  no  house  was  completed,  nor  were  they 
even  commenced.  But  early  in  the  year  '51,  building  was 
commenced,  and  rapidly  prosecuted.  Two  gentlemen,  Messrs. 
Lassen  Nesbit  and  Chapman  Turner,  donated  11  acres  of 
land  to  the  institution,  which  was  laid  off  into  half  acre  lots, 
except  the  lots  for  the  institution  and  professors,  which  were 


AuTOBiOGRAniY  OF  Bbantley  York.  59 

sold  at  public  auction  and  the  proceeds  appropriated  to  the 
institution.  The  fourth  of  July,  '51,  was  a  high  day  for 
New  Institute.  A  public  dinner  was  given  to  all  present.  In 
the  forenoon  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read  by 
Col.  Jones  of  Williamsburg,  and  an  address  on  the  fourth  of 
July,  by  Quincey  Sharpe,  Esq.,  of  Statesville,  and  in  the 
afternoon  the  people  were  addressed  by  Rev.  B.  York,  on  the 
subject  of  education,  and  a  liberal  subscription  was  lifted. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  '51,  I  was  elected  Principal  of  the 
school.  The  work  had  now  so  far  advanced  that  it  was 
believed  the  school  could  be  opened  in  September,  and  on  2nd 
August  of  the  same  year  the  Rev.  Baxter  Clegg  was  elected 
Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek.  The  first  session  opened  in 
September  or  October,  with  about  forty  students.  There 
were  sub-agents  in  different  portions  of  the  State.  Rev.  Min- 
ton  Connelly  was  elected  agent  and  collector;  but  it  was 
soon  found  to  be  absolutely  necessary  for  me  to  continue  in 
the  agency,  as  money  came  in  too  slowly  for  successfully  car- 
rying on  the  work;  hence  while  I  still  held  my  position  as 
principal  of  the  school,  I  was  urged  to  travel  as  agent,  while 
Rev.  B.  Clegg  acted  as  Principal  of  the  school.  The  number 
of  students  continued  to  increase,  and  building  went  on  rap- 
idly. It  was  soon  found  that  it  was  necessary  for  Professor 
Clegg  to  have  an  assistant.  Mr.  John  Kinion  was  elected 
Professor  of  Modern  Languages  and  Mathematics.  The 
spring  session  of  '52  opened  with  about  100  students,  and  the 
numbers  continued  to  increase  till  they  reached  the  number  of 
146.  After  I  had  wound  up  my  circuit  schools,  no  more  were 
formed  in  that  way,  though  I  continued  teaching  classes  both 
in  this  State  and  South  Carolina  in  connection  with  my  work 
as  agent.  In  the  summer  of  '52,  Rev.  James  Pastell  came 
from  South  Carolina  with  the  express  purpose  of  getting  me 
to  go  to  that  state  to  teach  grammar  classes.  I  went  with 
him  and  a  large  one  was  formed  at  Armenia  Church,  Ches- 
ter County.  This  was  the  first  class  taught  in  this  state.  The 
result  of  the  teaching  made  a  strong  impression,  and  I  was 
solicited  to  return  by  several  gentlemen  in  Yorkville,  and  in 
the  autumn  of  the  same  year  I  visited  Yorkville,  and  formed 
classes  both  for  the  day  and  night,  and  continued  a  large  per- 


GO         AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  BkANTLEY  YoRK. 

tion  of  the  winter  of  '52  and  '53  in  the  same  place.  I  did 
mv  teaching  without  a  book,  using  the  blackboard  and  slates, 
for  I  could  tind  no  book  that  would  suit  mj  method  of  teach- 
ing, and  while  in  Yorkville  I  commenced  writing,  with  a 
view  to  J3ublishing  a  book  on  English  Grammar,  and  wrote 
about  fifty  pages  of  foolscap,  which  was  all  I  ever  wrote  with 
my  own  hand.  In  every  place  where  I  taught  scholars  went 
to  Xew  Institute,  and  there  were  some  thirty  boarders  from 
South  Carolina  in  the  spring  session  of  '53. 

While  I  was  in  South  Carolina  teaching  classes,  I  preached 
frequently;  for  I  attended  two  cami>meetings,  and  I  also 
lectured  in  several  places  in  favor  of  the  institution  of  learn- 
ing which  I  was  representing.  Nor  did  I  lecture  in  vain; 
for  the  people  generally  gave  liberally,  though  the  itinerant 
preachers,  or  at  least  some  of  them,  did  not  favor  the  enter- 
prise, because  the  institution  was  located  in  iNTorth  Carolina, 
and  too  many  of  them  were  prejudiced  against  the  I\orth 
Carolina  Conference ;  because  a  large  portion  of  the  territory 
in  ISTorth  Carolina  occupied  by  the  South  Carolina  Confer- 
ence had  been  recently  by  the  act  of  the  General  Conference 
transferred  to  the  l^orth  Carolina  Conference.  One  of  the 
principal  pleas  which  I  offered  as  a  reason  why  they  should 
support  this  institution  was  that  young  men  in  indigent  cir- 
cumstances preparing  for  the  ministry,  irrespective  of  the 
church  relations,  would  receive  their  education  free  of  tuition. 
While  I  was  lecturing  and  teaching  in  Yorkville,  I  attended 
a  session  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference  held  in  Sumpter- 
ville.  While  there  I  had  abundant  evidence  of  the  prejudices 
entertained  against  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  for, 
though  I  asked  for  but  one-half  hour  to  address  the  confer- 
ence on  the  subject  of  my  agency,  it  was  promptly  refused, 
and  though  the  committee  on  Divine  service  was  frequently 
and  strongly  solicited  to  appoint  me  [to]  preach  at  some  hour 
during  the  conference,  they  peremptorily  refused,  saying, 
''We  have  jDreachers  enough  of  our  own  to  fill  the  hours  with- 
out calling  on  a  iSTorth  Carolinian."  Yet  there  were  several 
honorable  exceptions  to  this  treatment ;  for  there  were  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  who  subscribed  liberally  to  the  institution. 

I  returned  from  South  Carolina  early  in  the  spring     of 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  61 

'53,  and,  having-  been  solicited  by  a  gentleman  whom  I  met 
on  the  cars,  to  visit  llutherford  County  and  lecture  and  form 
classes,  in  a  few  days  after  reaching  home  I  set  out  for  that 
county.  I  lectured  in  Rutherfordton,  the  county  seat,  and 
formed  a  night  class  of  some  twenty  students.  I  also  visited 
Gray's  Chapel  some  seven  or  eight  miles  from  towni.  I  also 
formed  a  class  there  of  some  twenty  or  more  students — the 
two  classes  paid  something  over  $10.00  per  day.  After  the 
close  of  these  classes,  I  returned  home ;  but  my  vision  had  so 
failed  that  it  was  with  much  difficulty  that  I  could  travel 
even  on  horseback,  and  when  I  forded  the  Catawba  river,  I 
could  not  tell  in  what  direction  the  horse  was  going.  The 
number  of  students  had  so  increased  that  the  association  was 
compelled  to  erect  another  house  for  instruction  as  large  as 
the  first  building.  Xow  there  was  sufficient  room  to  accom- 
modate 150  or  200  students.  In  a  few  days  after  my  re- 
turn from  Rutherford  the  commencement  of  the  school  came 
off.  The  attendance  was  large  and  much  interest  was  mani- 
fested in  the  school.  Before  I  left  Rutherford,  I  promisd  to 
return  and  teach  a  class  at  Thoms  Schoolhouse,  and  as  my 
vision  was  now  too  defective  to  travel  alone,  my  son  Watson 
went  with  me,  and  continued  till  the  session  closed.  He  then 
returned  home  taking  the  buggy  and  horse  with  him.  An- 
other class  was  formed  at  Baptist  church,  but  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  class  at  the  schoolhouse  joined  at  the  church. 
Brother  Gartrell,  a  local  preacher  from  the  State  of  Georgia, 
who  had  attended  the  class  at  the  schoolhouse  joined  at  the 
church,  also  his  wnfe.  We  boarded  together  some  four  miles 
from  the  church,  and  as  he  had  a  horse  and  carriage,  he  con- 
veyed me  to  the  school  and  back.  I  had  written  before  the 
school  closed  for  Mrs.  York  to  meet  me  at  Rock  Spring  in 
Lincoln  County.  The  class  closed  on  Thursday  and  the 
meeting  commenced  on  the  Friday  night  following.  Soon 
after  reaching  there  Mrs.  York  arrived.  After  the  camp- 
meeting  had  closed  we  set  out  for  Gray's  Chapel  where  I  had 
engaged  to  teach  another  class.  But  on  the  way  we  stopped  at 
another  camp-meeting  at  Center  Camp-ground.  We  found 
Brother  Gray  and  his  family,  with  whom  I  had  boarded, 
encamped  on  the  ground.    As  soon  as  the  meeting  had  closed 


62  Autobiography  of  Bkantley  York. 

we  proceeded  to  the  chapel,  where  a  very  large  class  of  nearly 
forty  students  was  formed.  The  class  was  so  large  that  I 
found  it  necessary  to  employ  an  assistant  teacher.  Sixteen 
students  boarded  in  the  same  house  with  us.  I  continued  at 
Gray's  Chapel  forty  days.  The  class  was  large  and  very  in- 
teresting,— several  teachers  were  in  the  class.  Miss  Matilda 
Smith,  daughter  of  the  late  Campbell  Smith,  of  Eutherford, 
was  my  assistant  teacher.  She  was  about  sixteen  years  old, 
but  had  attended  two  grammar  classes  previously.  She  was 
unusually  talented  and  amiable  as  she  was  talented ;  she  sub- 
sequently was  generally  engaged  in  teaching ;  but  died  before 
she  was  thirty ;  ''death  loves  a  shining  mark." 

While  I  was  teaching  this  class  at  the  Chapel,  I  was  re- 
quested by  certain  gentlemen  to  visit  Spartanburg,  South 
Carolina,  as  they  would  insure  me  a  good  class.  At  the  close 
of  the  class,  I  went,  and  some  five  or  six  students  went  with 
me.  This  was  in  the  latter  part  of  October,  '53.  A  class 
was  inunediately  formed,  and  I  continued  there  forty  days, 
and  while  here  I  became  totally  blind.  Though  my  vision 
had  been  long  declining,  yet  the  close  was  sudden  and  un- 
expected ;  for,  on  Saturday  night,  as  I  was  preparing  to 
preach  on  the  following  day,  I  was  reading  and  writing  till 
eleven  o'clock  and  when  I  awoke  next  morning,  I  was  blind. 
This  was  one  of  the  darkest  days  of  my  life,  and,  for  the 
first  time  in  my  life  I  preached  without  seeing  the  congrega- 
tion. I  knew  not  what  to  do  nor  what  I  could  do;  but  the 
thing  which  troubled  me  most  was  the  thought  that  my  liter- 
ary career  was  ended,  and  the  grammar  which  I  was  prepar- 
ing for  publication  would  never  see  the  light. 

During  the  time  that  my  vision  was  declining,  I  passed 
through  many  remarkable  optical  illusions.  At  first  an  ob- 
ject appeared  double,  and  I  was  constantly  deceived  with  re- 
gard to  the  distance  of  objects.  Next,  the  objects  appeared 
triple,  and  then  quadruple,  then  passing  over  the  numbers 
5,  6  and  Y,  one  object  appeared  as  8.  The  moon  looked  like 
eight  distinct  moons ;  four  were  entirely  distinct  and  separ- 
ate, the  others  were  touching  at  certain  points  and  forming 
certain  angles.  At  one  time  a  candle  or  lamp,  seen  at  the 
distance  of  the  diameter  of  a  common  sitting  room,  formed 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  63 

a  circular  flame  nearly  as  large  as  the  circumference  of  a 
small  s})innini»;  wheel — the  circular  flame  was  perfect  ex- 
cept one  small  arc  was  dark  at  the  lower  edge  of  the  circum- 
ference, and  in  the  area  of  the  circle,  there  appeared  to  be 
scattered  through  its  surface  flames  of  the  candle,  forming 
every  kind  of  angle,  and  the  circumference  of  the  circle  in- 
creased as  the  distance  increased.  During  this  illusion  I 
preached  at  several  camp-meetings.  At  night  the  scene  was 
magnificent,  and  beggars  description.  Perhaps  a  hundred 
circles  of  fire  of  different  diameters  appeared  at  the  same 
time,  and  each  fire-stand  on  the  outside  made  a  large  bril- 
liant circle,  enveloping  the  whole  congregation  in  an  appar- 
ent flame  of  fire,  and  the  people  appeared  to  be  sitting,  and 
walking  and  standing  enveloped  in  circles  of  fire.  The  last 
illusion  was  the  most  distressing  of  all  for  every  dbject  which 
I  saw  apj)eared  to  touch  my  face,  and  the  ground  on  which  I 
walked  appeared  to  be  standing  perpendicularly  immediately 
before  my  face.  This  was  worse  than  total  blindness  but 
was  of  short  duration, 

A  few  days  before  Christmas,  the  last  session  of  the  class 
closed,  and  we  set  out  for  home  from  which  I  had  been  ab- 
sent for  more  than  six  months.  On  arriving  at  home  I  found 
every  person  excited  with  a  grand  enterprise  in  which  the 
association  had  engaged,  A  three-story  brick  building,  100 
by  SO  feet  was  to  be  erected,  and  indeed  had  already  been  let 
out.  Mr,  Azer  Shell,  of  Lenoir,  had  bidden  it  off  at  $9,999.00. 
To  meet  these  expenditures  they  had  negotiated  a  loan  of 
$10,000.00,  but  even  this  failed  to  cover  the  expenses.  A 
gentleman  from  Stanley  County,  who  had  come  there  some 
ten  months  previous,  with  a  capital  of  some  $3,000.00,  had 
purchased  a  lot  and  small  house,  and  had  made  additions  to 
it  suflicient  to  accommodate  some  eight  or  ten  boarders,  and 
agreed  to  erect  a  house  to  board  girls  at  a  cost  of  some  $1,500. 
In  short  all  appeared  to  be  looking  through  glasses  of  great 
magiiifying  ^wwers.  As  soon  as  a  meeting  of  the  Association 
could  be  called,  I  gave  them  my  opinion  with  regard  to  that 
entire  enterprise — that  though  I  was  not  a  prophet  nor  the 
son  of  a  prophet,  it  would  seriously  damage  the  school  if  it 
did  not  ruin  it.     "Oh,  no !  this  is  looking  at  the  dark  side  of 


64  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

the  picture."'  Professor  Clegg  had  told  them  that  instead  of 
getting  one  dollar,  they  would  get  ten,  and  instead  of  ten,  a 
hundred,  and  instead  of  a  hundred,  a  thousand. 

As  I  was  now  blind  and  knew  not  what  course  to  pursue,  I 
resigned  my  connection  with  the  institution,  both  as  agent 
and  Principal,  and  gave  up  my  book.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  investigate  the  book  of  subscriptions  and  report. 
They  rejjiorted  $8,000.00  subscription,  and  thought  that 
$7,000  were  perfectly  good.  This  report  appeared  to  encour- 
age the  Association  very  much.  Twenty-five  per  cent  of  this 
belonged  to  me  as  agent.  They  appointed  a  collector  with  in- 
structions to  collect  as  fast  as  the  nature  of  the  case  would 
admit.  In  a  short  time,  they  called  another  meeting  in  my 
absence,  with  barely  a  quorum,  and,  with  one  fell  stroke^ 
struck  down  the  constitution,  and  established  the  school  on 
the  old  trustee  system.  According  to  the  former  constitution 
everyone  who  paid  his  dollar  was  constituted  a  member  of  the 
Association,  and  in  virtue  of  the  membership  had  a  right  to 
a  vote  in  all  the  business  transactions  relating  to  the  school. 
This  last  act,  changing  the  constitution,  gave  almost  universal 
dissatisfaction  nor  would  scarcely  a  member  pay  his  sub- 
scription. In  this  way  they  not  only  lost  some  five  or  six 
thousand  dollars,  but  caused  me  to  lose  some  $1,700.00.  Xor 
was  this  all,  for  they  lost  a  very  large  fraction  of  their  patron- 
age, for,  after  the  building  had  been  completed,  and  the  school 
moved  into  it  they  had  only  forty  students,  having  lost  more 
than  100  students.  Affairs  now  appeared  gloomy.  Profes- 
sor Lander  was  employed  as  principal  and  Professor  Clegg 
as  agent ;  and  for  his  services  they  agreed  to  pay  his  expenses 
and  $1,200  per  year.  He  signally  failed  as  an  agent,  nor 
did  he  collect  one-third  enough  to  pay  himself,  nor  did  the 
institution  ever  regain  its  former  prosperity,  and  in  a  short 
time  a  mortgage  was  given  on  all  the  school  property  for  the 
debt  which  they  had  contracted,  and  it  finally  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  man  who  had  loaned  the  money,  nor  did  he  ever 
get  the  money  he  had  loaned.  Not  only  did  the  institution 
fail,  but  nearly  all  who  were  actively  engaged  in  the  enter- 
prise. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  65 

career  as  an  author. 

Tn  the  year  '52,  by  order  of  the  educational  association,  I 
jmblished  a  book  in  pamphlet  form  containing  the  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws  of  the  association,  the  improved  system  of 
teaching:,  etc.  In  the  year  -56,  by  request  of  the  York  Col. 
Association,  I  published  another  book  in  pamphlet  form  sim- 
ilar to  the  one  previously  published,  only  more  voluminous. 
In  the  year  '54  I  published  the  first  edition  of  York's  English 
Grammar,  consisting  of  2,500  copies.  It  was  published  in 
Salisbury,  and  printed  by  J.  J.  Brunner,  editor  of  the  8alis- 
hury  Watchman.  In  '59  an  enlarged,  stereotyped  edition, 
consisting  of  1,000  copies,  was  published  in  Xew  York,  but 
by  neglect  of  Mr.  Pomeroy  my  publisher  the  plates  were 
lost,  which  cost  me  several  hundred  dollars,  as  the  War  came 
on,  and  all  communication  with  the  Xorth  was  cut  ofP.  In 
the  year  '60  the  first  edition  of  the  Common  School  Gram- 
mar, consisting  of  5,000  copies,  was  published  in  the  city  of 
Ealeigh,  printed  by  Mr.  Gorman,  Editor  of  the  Spirit  of  the 
Age.  In  the  year  '62  the  third  edition  of  the  High  School 
Grammar,  consisting  of  2,500  [copies]  was  published  in  the 
city  of  Ealeigh,  printed  by  Mr.  Gorman.  Sometime  during 
the  War  a  second  edition  of  the  Common  School  Grammar 
was  published  in  the  city  of  Ealeigh,  by  Dr.  Branson,  my  pub- 
lisher— number  of  copies  not  recollected.  In  the  year  '79,  the 
fourth  edition  of  the  High  School  Grammar,  revised  and  en- 
larged, was  published  in  the  city  of  Ealeigh,  printed  by  Mr. 
John  jS^ichols,  1,000  copies.  In  the  year  '80  the  third  edition 
revised  and  enlarged,  [of  the  Common  School  Grammar]  was 
published  by  EdAvards,  Broughton  <&:  Co.  In  the  year  '84 
the  fourth  edition  of  the  Common  School  Grammar,  con- 
sisting of  2,000  copies,  was  published  in  Ealeigh  by  Edwards, 
Broughton  &  Co.  In  the  year  '73,  the  Man  of  Business 
and  Eailroad  Calculator,  a  book  containing  applied  Arith- 
metic and  Legal  Forms,  was  published  in  the  city  of  Ealeigh. 
An  unpublished  manuscript,  consisting  of  Dialogues,  Col- 
loquies and  short  speeches,  adapted  to  schools  and  colleges 
is  in  the  possession  of  my  son,  Eev.  B.  A.  Yoi'k. 


66  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

While  I  was  preparing  the  English  Grammar  for  publica- 
tion a  number  of  young  men  and  some  voung  ladies  in  the 
school  urged  me  to  give  them  lessons  in  English  grammar, 
statins;  that  they  could  not  learn  the  grammar  as  it  was  taught 
in  the  regular  school.  I  consented  to  give  them  two  lessons 
in  the  dav ;  one  in  the  forenoon  and  one  in  the  afternoon,  one 
hour  long;  and  some  studying  Latin,  with  a  view  to  studying 
the  law,  applied  for  the  same  privilege,  which  was  granted. 
Hence  three  hours  in  the  day  were  occupied  in  teaching;  the 
balance  of  the  time  was  devoted  to  writing.  To  this  teaching, 
Professor  Clegg  objected,  and  tried  to  prevent  it,  but  could 
not.  He  said  nothing  to  me  about  it,  but  threatened  expul- 
sion to  the  students  if  they  persisted,  but  this  also  was  un- 
availing, for  the  students  continued  firm  in  their  purpose,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  session  of  the  regular  school,  some  twenty 
students  remained  in  order  to  go  through  a  thorough  course  in 
English  Grammar,  and  a  class  of  thirty  was  formed  fpr  a 
term  of  thirty  days.  ^Notwithstanding  this  teaching  hindered 
me  in  the  prosecution  of  my  work,  yet  it  was  a  great  pecun- 
iary relief.  During  the  early  part  of  my  blindness,  the 
people  sincerely  sympathized  with  my  condition,  and  almost 
every  place  I  preached  or  lectured,  more  or  less  donations 
were  made,  and  the  session  of  the  i^orth  Carolina  Conference 
held  at  Pittsboro,  in  the  winter  of  '53  and  '54,  sent  me  a  dona- 
tion of  $104.00  to  aid  in  purchasing  me  a  home.  But  the 
more  and  longer  the  people  became  acquainted  with  my  con- 
dition, the  less  they  were  inclined  to  give.  Hence  I  was  soon 
thrown  upon  my  own  resources,  and  even  now  (1886)  I  suc- 
ceed better  in  traveling  among  strangers  than  among  familiar 
friends ;  for,  "a  prophet  is  not  without  honor  save  in  his  own 
country  and  among  his  own  kin."  But  under  a  kind  Provi- 
dence and  in  a  great  measure  by  dint  of  my  own  efforts,  I 
have  succeeded  in  raising  and  educating  a  large  family,  and 
though  almost  the  whole  of  my  public  life  I  have  been  seri- 
ously afflicted,  and  have  suffered  much  from  Asthma,  and 
have  occasionally  suffered  much  from  other  diseases,  my 
health  is  better  now  at  the  age  of  82  than  in  the  days  of  many 
years  long  gone  by. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  67 

After  I  bad  become  ])liiid,  and  bad  resigned  my  connection 
witb  tbe  Olin  Higb  Scbool,  as  it  was  afterwards  called,  and 
the  people  expected  no  further  advantages  from  me,  they 
seemed  to  forget  their  former  promises ;  for  they  promised  me 
and  ]\Irs.  York,  that,  if  I  would  go  in  wdth  them  and  build  up 
this  school  I  would  never  lack  a  home,  nor  would  my  favors 
ever  be  forgotten.  I  was  necessarily  compelled  to  travel,  and 
it  was  necessary  tbe  most  of  the  time  for  Mrs.  York  to  be  with 
me,  and  for  several  months  we  had  all  left  home,  and  while  we 
were  all  away  we  hired  a  gentleman  with  a  small  family  to 
take  care  of  our  property.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  those  who 
had  been  most  urgent  on  me  to  abandon  my  regular  business, 
and  aid  in  building  up  the  school,  endeavored  to  get  this  man 
to  give  up  the  house,  and  threatened  him  with  the  law  if  he 
did  not.  He  wrote  me  with  regard  to  what  was  going  on.  On 
receiving  the  news,  l^rs.  York  left  and  went  home — had  she 
not  done  this  the  probability  it  that  they  would  have  got  pos- 
session of  the  house.  It  has  long  been  said  that  republics  are 
ungrateful.     The  same  may  be  predicated  of  schools. 

The  first  edition  of  the  Grammar  having  been  published, 
which  had  exhausted  all  the  money  I  had  on  hand,  leaving  me 
some  hundred  dollars  in  debt,  it  became  necessary  for  me  to 
leave  home,  and  try  what  I  could  do  in  the  way  of  teaching, 
lecturing  and  preaching.  As  it  appeared  necessary  for  Mrs. 
York  to  go  with  me,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  break  up 
housekeeping  for  a  while.  All  the  children  except  the  young- 
est, that  was  an  infant,  were  placed  in  the  care  of  my  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Elliott.  We  left  home  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
'54,  and  went  to  Union  Factory,  now  Randleman,  where  I 
preached  several  times  and  lectured  and  formed  a  class  both 
for  day  and  night.  The  night  class  was  especially  large ;  con- 
sequently I  needed  help,  and  immediately  sent  for  Watson, 
my  oldest  son.  We  continued  teaching  in  Union  nearly  all 
the  winter  of  '54  and  '55.  Winding  up  here,  I  went  to 
Franklinsville,  and  formed  classes  for  both  day  and  night, 
and  we  continued  teaching  some  50  days,  at  the  close  of  which 
it  became  necessary  for  Mrs.  York  to  return  home,  and  I  set 
out  in  company  with  my  son  Watson,  preaching  and  lecturing 
in  various  places.      Among  other  places  we  visited   South 


68  AUTOBIOGEAPHY    OF    BKA^'TLEY    YOKK. 

Lowell  Academy.  There  the  Principal,  Eev.  Mr.  Baglev,  and 
others  urged  me  to  return  and  deliver  the  annual  address  at 
the  approaching  commencement.  To  this  I  consented,  and 
returned  home.  During  mj  stay  at  home  I  was  solicited  by 
several  gentlement  from  Rocky  Spring  neighborhood  to  as- 
sist them  in  building  up  an  institution  of  learning.  After 
much  consultation  I  gave  my  consent  which,  as  the  sequel 
will  show,  resulted  in  a  considerable  disadvantage  in  a  pe- 
cuniary point  of  view.  At  the  appointed  time  I  returned  to 
South  Lowell  to  deliver  the  annual  address.  "While  at  the 
commencement  I  was  invited  by  the  Principal  and  others  to 
return  at  the  opening  of  the  next  session  and  give  a  full 
course  of  instruction  on  English  Grammar  and  Elocution.  I 
was  also  invited  by  Professor  Baily,  Principal  of  Red  Moun- 
tain Seminary,  to  give  the  young  ladies  of  the  Seminary  a 
full  course  of  instruction  in  English  Grammar.  I  consented 
to  return  and  give  the  desired  instruction  in  both  seminaries, 
which  w^ere  only  about  four  miles  distant  from  each  other. 
Again  I  returned  home,  and  during  the  interim  I  lectured  at 
Rocky  Spring  Church  and  foi*med  an  educational  Associa- 
tion, and  took  up  a  subscription  of  something  over  $500.00. 
The  Association  agreed,  if  I  would  take  charge  of  the  school, 
that  they  would  build  a  good  house,  and  give  it  to  me  as  a 
donation.  At  the  time  appointed  for  the  opening  of  the  ses- 
sions of  these  schools,  I,  in  company  with  my  son,  returned 
and  fell  in  with  the  Quarterly  meeting  at  South  Lowell,  and 
preached  on  Saturday  night  of  the  meeting,  when  a  revival 
of  no  ordinary  extent  broke  out,  and  I  continued  preaching 
through  the  whole  of  the  next  week,  with  several  other  preach- 
ers. Robert  O.  Burton  was  the  P.  E.,  and  brother  Avent,  P. 
C.  During  this  meeting  I  heard  Dr.  Mangum  preach  his 
first  sermon,  from  "This  their  way  is  their  folly.'" 

As  notice  had  been  given  of  the  lectures  that  were  to  be 
given,  several  teachers  came  in — one  or  two  from  Eayette- 
ville,  and  one  from  Randolph.  I  continued  here  teaching, 
giving  the  lessons  the  same  day  at  both  places,  and  both  day 
and  night  for  some  six  weeks,  and  was  abundantly  successful. 
Besides  the  pay  for  the  teaching,  the  young  men  of  South 
Lowell  made  a  donation  of  some  forty  or  forty-five  dollars, 


Autobiography  of  Braxtley  York.  69 

and  the  young  ladies  at  Red  Mountain  between  twenty  and 
thirty  dollars ;  besides  I  received  donations  from  various 
others,  and  during  the  time  I  preached  at  various  places,  and 
at  one  place  when^  I  preached  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  at  a 
protracted  meeting,  on  Sunday  a  collection  was  taken  up  in 
my  favor,  amounting  to  about  $34.00. 

While  lecturing  at  these  schools,  I  was  strongly  urged  by 
the  gentlemen  of  the  neighborhood  to  remain  with  them. 
They  offered  to  furnish  me  with  a  house  and  lot,  and  support 
my  family  entirely  for  no  other  remuneration  than  my  preach- 
ing. To  this  liberal  offer  I  could  not  consent;  because  my 
hands  were  fettered — I  had  previously  promised  the  people 
at  Rocky  Spring  to  go  there. 

The  time  arranged  for  the  opening  of  the  school  at  Rocky 
Spring,  or  York  Collegiate  Institute,  as  it  will  henceforth  be 
called,  was  the  first  of  January,  '56.  Soon  after  returning 
from  South  Lowell  I  received  an  invitation  by  letter  to  visit 
Salem  Church,  Alamance  County,  with  a  view  to  forming  a 
class  in  Elocution  and  Grammar.  I  went  and  lectured,  and  a 
class  in  each  was  fonned  for  a  period  of  sixteen  days,  for 
that  was  as  long  as  I  could  possibly  stay,  but  the  teaching  of 
this  class  was  the  cause  of  some  twelve  or  fifteen  students 
going  to  York  Collegiate  Institute.  The  night  after  I  reached 
Olin,  a  snow  commenced  falling  and  continued  falling  nearly 
all  the  next  day.  One  or  two  wagons  had  been  sent  to  move 
us  to  York  Collegiate,  but  the  w^eather  was  too  bad  for  the 
family  to  turn  out.  In  some  three  or  four  days  after,  we  set 
out  for  Y.  C.  L,  through  the  snow.  This,  the  winter  of  '55- 
'56,  was  the  coldest  that  had  been  known  for  a  number  of 
years.  The  snow  lay  on  the  ground  nearly  all  the  winter, 
and  frequently  it  was  some  fifteen  or  eighteen  inches  deep. 
But,  notwithstanding  this,  the  school  opened  remarkably  well. 
Within  a  few  days  after  the  opening  of  the  school  there  were 
some  twenty  or  twenty-five  boarders  present.  The  first  ses- 
sion there  were  some  fifty  students,  and  a  more  promising 
set  of  young  men  and  boys  seldom  come  together.  The  first 
commencement  came  off  early  in  June;  the  annual  address 
was  delivered  by  Professor  Hill  of  Iredell.  The  declamation 
of  the  young  men  was  very  fine;  hence  the  influence  in  favor 


70         AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  BkANTLEY  YoKK. 

of  the  school  appeared  to  be  very  strong.  During  the  vaca- 
tion I  preached  and  lectured  at  Mount  Pleasant  Church, 
Chatham  County,  and  formed  a  large  class,  principally  in 
Grammar.  The  teaching  of  this  class  made  a  strong  impres- 
sion in  favor  of  the  Y.  C.  I. 

About  the  middle  of  the  fall  session  of  Y.  C.  I.,  I  left  the 
school  in  charge  of  Professors  Edwards  and  R.  W.  York,  and 
set  out  for  the  town  of  !Xewbern,  to  which  place  I  had  pre- 
viously been  invited.  On  my  way  thither  I  stopped  at  Ker- 
nersville  to  fill  an  appointment  that  had  been  made  some 
weeks  previous.  While  there  I  met  with  a  very  remarkable 
child,  a  little  girl  about  three  years  old,  the  daughter  of  Mr. 
James  Stockton.  I  was  informed  that  when  the  appointment 
was  announced  that  a  blind  preacher  would  preach  there  at 
a  certain  time,  she  manifested  unusual  interest  in  the  blind 
preacher,  and  frequently  asked,  ''When  will  he  come."  When 
I  entered  the  church  she  asked  her  mother,  with  much  emo- 
tion, "Is  that  the  blind  preacher  ?"  I  was  entertained  during 
my  stay  by  Mr.  Stockton,  the  father  of  the  child.  She  seemed 
almost  to  forget  her  father  and  mother  while  I  remained,  in 
her  attention  and  devotion  to  me,  manifesting  the  strongest 
possible  affection.  Some  two  years  after,  I  stopped  at  Ker- 
nersvillee  again,  a  protracted  meeting  having  just  commenced. 
After  I  had  preached,  as  soon  as  I  left  the  pulpit  Brother 
Stockton  met  me  and  manifested  much  joy.  As  soon  as  our 
compliments  had  passed,  I  asked,  "Where  is  Mary?"  (I  think 
that  was  her  name).  "Oh!"  said  he,  "she  has  gone  home." 
Notwithstanding  his  utterance  seemed  somewhat  obstructed 
by  emotion,  I  thought  he  meant  that  she  was  only  gone  home, 
as  the  house  was  a  little  out  of  town;  but  he  meant  that 
she  had  gone  to  her  heavenly  home.  He  said,  moreover,  that 
Mary  never  forgot  the  blind  preacher,  and  frequntly  spoke 
of  me  with  some  emotion,  and  almost  the  last  word  she  ut- 
tered was,  "I  am  going  home  to  heaven,  and  I  expect  to  meet 
the  blind  preacher  there." 

On  my  way  to  ISTewbern  I  preached  and  lectured  at  Mount 
Pleasant  Church,  where  I  had  taught  a  class,  and  another 
class  was  formed  for  twenty  days,  and  while  I  was  here,  I 
was  called  upon  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon  of  Sister  Xor- 


AUTOBIOGKAIMIY    OF    BrANTLEY    YoRK.  71 

wood.  1  preached  from  the  text,  ''For  we  know  that  if  this 
earthly  house  of  our  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have  a 
building  of  God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens;"'  II  Cor.,  2  chap.,  1  verse.  The  congTegation  was 
large,  and  the  feeling  intense. 

After  I  had  taught  the  class  spoken  of  above,  I  set  out  in 
company  with  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Snipes,  for  Xew- 
bern.  AVe  took  the  train  at  Durham,  and  went  to  Goldsboro, 
and  there  we  took  the  stage  for  is^ewbern,  and  reaching  the 
place  on  Friday  evening,  stopped  at  the  Washington  House. 
My  arrival  was  soon  known.  Not  a  few  called  on  me,  and. 
several  made  donations.  On  Sunday  I  preached  at  the  Meth- 
odist church  to  a  large  congregation,  much  interest  being 
m.anifested.  On  Monday  night  I  lectured  to  a  large  congre- 
gation assembled  at  the  theatre.  At  the  close  of  the  lecture  I 
was  earnestly  solicited  to  lecture  again  on  the  following  night. 
I  simply  stated  to  the  audience  the  object  of  my  business, 
that  I  had  came  to  form  grammar  classes,  or  any  others  they 
might  desire.  While  at  breakfast  next  morning,  I  was  in- 
formed that  a  number  of  ladies  had  assembled  in  the  parlor, 
desiring  to  see  me.  Soon  as  breakfast  was  over,  I  was  intro- 
duced by  Mr.  Bryant,  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel  to  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  ladies,  some  married  and  some  single,  one  of 
whom  was  Mrs.  Green,  wife  of  lawyer  Green.  They  told  me 
that  they  had  come  to  take  lessons  in  grammar,  and  wished  to 
begin  immediately.  I  furnished  them  with  books,  and  com- 
menced teaching  forthwith.  Mr.  Bryant  permitted  us  to 
teach  in  his  parlor.  This  class  continued  to  increase  until  it 
numbered  some  twenty-five.  Another  large  class  was  formed 
in  Mr.  Mayhew's  Academy ;  an  Elocution  class  was  formed  at 
the  parsonage.  I  met  the  class  in  the  Washington  House 
twice  a  day,  giving  them  a  morning  and  an  evening  lesson. 
The  Elocution  class  was  met  a  little  before  11  a.  m.  Profes- 
sor Mayhew  and  daughter  were  both  members  of  the  night 
class ;  his  daughter  is  now  Mrs.  Hendren.  I  now  had  enough 
to  keep  myself  and  Mr.  Snipes  both  busy.  Mr.  Bryant  was 
a  very  liberal,  clever  man.  He  furnished  a  room  to  teach  in, 
and  coal  to  warai  it,  and  boarded  me  and  Mr.  Snipes,  and 
charged  nothing  but  the  tuition  of  two  scholars.     I  continued 


72  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

teaching  here  some  seven  or  eight  weeks,  and  when  I  was 
ready  to  leave  the  ladies  requested  me  to  deliver  a  lecture  in 
the  theatre  the  night  before  I  left,  made  me  a  concert,  and 
notwithstanding  there  was  a  snow  several  inches  deep  on  the 
ground,  they  raised  between  80  and  90  dollars  for  my  bene- 
fit. Than  these  a  nobler  set  of  ladies  I  have  never  met.  While 
here  I  did  what  few  Protestant  ministers  ever  did — I  bap- 
tised a  child  of  a  Catholic  lady.  Mr.  Snipes  continued  teach- 
ing after  I  had  left.  Two  young  men  accompanied  me  to  Y. 
C.  I.  as  students.  The  spring  session  of  '57  had  commenced 
before  I  reached  home.  Besides  the  donation,  my  tuition 
fees,  and  what  the  ladies  raised  at  the  concert,  the  members 
of  the  church  where  I  had  preached  frequently  took  up  a  col- 
lection, and  raised  $24.00.  The  school  at  Y.  C.  I.  was  still 
in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  continued  so  until  sometime 
in  '58,  [when]  I  resigned.  After  my  resignation.  Professor 
Marler  took  charge  of  the  school  and  continued  for  some  three 
sessions.  After  he  left  Eev.  T.  L.  Troy  established  a  female 
school  in  the  seminary — but  thinly  attended.  During  the 
war  the  house  was  badly  damaged ;  no  school,  except  I  taught 
two  or  three  grammar  classes.  After  the  war  had  closed, 
Colonel  Flowers  and  myself  opened  a  school  in  the  house,  and 
had  a  good  school,  considering  the  times.  At  the  end  of  the 
first  session  he  resigned,  and  I  continued  a  session  or  two 
longer.  After  I  had  quit,  Mr.  Raymer  and  Colonel  Flowers 
taught  two  sessions,  and  this  was  about  the  last  teaching  that 
was  ever  done  in  that  house.  The  house  was  a  gravel  wall, 
and  was  miserably  slighted  in  the  building.  It  finally  fell,  or 
came  near  it,  and  has  been  removed  for  several  years  past. 

During  the  interim  between  my  resignation  and  the  war 
my  time  was  almost  wholly  occupied  in  traveling  and  lectur- 
ing and  teaching  and  preaching.  In  the  spring  of  '58  I 
went  on  a  preaching  tour,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Alfred  Smith 
as  a  traveling  companion.  I  delivered  a  series  of  sermons  in 
Charlotte,  which  excited  some  interest.  From  there  we  went 
to  Concord,  and  there  I  preached  for  some  eight  or  ten  days. 
At  the  first  or  second  sermon,  a  revival  broke  out,  which  re- 
sulted in  several  converts.  The  church  was  also  much  revived 
and  I  was  remunerated  with  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  dol- 


AUTOBIOGKAPIIV    OF    BkANTLEY    YoRK.  73 

lars.  I  also  preached  at  Thomasvillc,  High  Point,  and 
Greensboro,  though  I  made  but  a  short  stay  at  each  of  these 
places,  but  generally  received  some  donations  everywhere.  I 
also  preached  in  Raleigh  at  both  stations,  was  kindly  received, 
and  handsomely  remunerated.  I  spent  a  few  days  in  Golds- 
boro,  and  then  we  went  directly  to  Wilmington.  There  I  re- 
mained some  twelve  days,  preaching  every  night,  and  Sunday 
twice  or  three  times.  I  alternated  between  the  two  stations; 
the  congregations  were  large  and  a  good  deal  of  interest  was 
manifested  at  both  stations.  The  donations  amounted  to 
about  $50.00.  While  I  was  preaching  at  Wilmington,  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  Chapel  Hill,  inviting  me  to  come  there, 
and  deliver  a  course  of  lectures ;  but  I  spent  so  much  time  in 
Wilmington,  Goldsboro  and  Raleigh  that  I  reached  Chapel 
Hill  too  late  for  the  lectures,  as  the  faculty  had  already  com- 
menced examining  the  classes,  immediately  before  the  com- 
mencement. jSTotwithstanding  my  health  was  very  bad,  yet 
I  preached  several  times  in  Chapel  Hill.  Dr.  Jones,  an  emi- 
nent physician,  who  manifested  much  interest  in  my  behalf, 
advised  me  to  go  home  immediately  and  rest,  as  I  was 
threatened  with  dropsy;  but  I  went  to  Hillsboro  and  con- 
tinued preaching  there  nearly  a  week.  From  there  I  went 
to  South  Lowell  and  preached,  and  then  returned  home,  my 
health  continuing  bad.  I  remained  at  home  some  six  or  seven 
weeks,.  My  health  having  somewhat  recovered,  I  set  out 
from  home  with  a  view  of  teaching  classes.  We  formed  a 
class  in  ISTewbern  in  both  English  and  French.  We  then 
went  to  Kinston,  and  I  delivered  a  seriees  of  lectures  on  one 
subject,  The  secret  of  success  disclosed,  for  which  I  received 
some  thirty  or  forty  dollars.  Then  a  class  was  formed  in 
English  Grammar,  and  also  Watson  formed  a  class  in 
French.  While  we  were  teaching  these  classes  the  annual  ses- 
sion of  the  North  Carolina  Conference  came  off  at  ISTewbern. 
We  both  attended  the  Conference.  Bishop  Kavanaugh  pre- 
sided. The  members  of  the  Conference  generally  manifested 
a  great  deal  of  interest  in  my  enterprise,  the  publication 
of  the  High  School  Grammar,  and  Dr.  Deems  made  a  speech 
in  my  behalf  before  the  Conference,  urging  the  preachers  to 
give  me  all  the  aid  possible,  especially  by  their  influence. 


74  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

Conference  having  closed  we  returned  to  Kinston  to  wind  np 
our  classes.  But  before  we  left,  through  the  influence  of  Dr. 
Deems,  we  both  received  free  tickets  on  our  way  home.  In 
some  two  or  three  days  we  wound  up  our  affairs  at  Kinston, 
and  set  out  for  home.  We  changed  cars  at  Goldsboro,  but 
before  we  reacheed  Greensboro  we  were  informed  that  the 
train  we  were  on  did  not  connect  with  the  train  running  from 
Salisbury  to  Statesville,  Consequently  we  got  oft"  the  train 
at  Greensboro  and  waited  for  the  train  on  the  morrow ;  but 
just  before  we  reached  the  depot  the  next  day  the  train  moved 
oft",  leaving  us  and  perhaps  fifty  other  passengers.  At  this  I 
felt  much  chagrined  as  I  had  been  from  home  three  months, 
and  was  anxious  to  be  there  on  Christmas.  But  after  reflect- 
ing, it  occurred  to  me  that  there  might  be  a  Providence  in  it, 
and  I  grieved  no  more  about  it.  Mr.  Michael  Sherwood,  a 
cousin  of  my  first  wife,  took  me  from' the  hotel  to  his  home 
where  I  was  treated  very  kindly.  Watson  left  on  the  night 
train.  Dr.  Burkhead,  who  was  the  stationed  preacher,  learn 
ing  that  I  was  left,  called  on  me  and  asked  me  to  preach  for 
him  next  day  (Sunday).  I  preached  at  the  appointed  hour, 
and  received  from  some  one  a  donation  of  $10.00,  so  it  turned 
out  for  the  best.  Brother  Thomas  was  to  preach  at  night 
in  Greensboro,  but  was  rained  out.  The  next  day,  however, 
was  a  pleasant  day.  I  left  on  the  train  at  two  o'clock,  p.  m., 
reached  Statesville  in  safety  about  dark,  where  I  was  met  by 
Mrs.  York  and  one  of  the  little  boys,  and  on  the  following  day 
reached  home,  but  remained  no  longer  than  we  could  make 
preparation  for  leaving  again. 

Early  in  January,  '59,  Mrs.  York  and  myself  set  out  with 
a  view  to  travel  principally  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
State.  The  special  object  we  had  in  view  was  to  raise  funds 
to  stereotype  the  High  School  Grammar.  The  first  place  we 
stopped  at  was  Lexington.  We  continued  there  some  two 
days.  I  preached  twice,  and  lectured  once,  but  did  but  little 
more  than  pay  our  board.  We  next  stopped  at  High  Point, 
where  Mr.  Langdon  was  conducting  a  female  Seminary.  I 
lectured  in  the  chapel  of  the  Seminary.  ^N^otwithstanding 
the  lecture  was  eulogized,  the  collection  was  very  poor — the 
prospect  so  far  was  not  flattering.     We  stopped  at  Ealeigh, 


AuTOBioGKAniY  OF  Bramtley  York.  75 

and  received  inuoli  eiirouragemeiit  from  Brother  Brnton  and 
other  leading  nieniLers  of  the  church,  bnt  it  was  not  thought 
to  be  a  propitious  time  for  a  lecture.  We  then  took  the  Ral- 
eigh &  Gaston  Road,  and  stopped  at  Henderson,  Granville 
County,  and  there  spent  some  four  days,  preaching  and  lec- 
turing, and  succeeded  better  here  than  we  had  done,  but  the 
result  was  not  encouraging,  but  [we]  were  urged  to  stop  on 
our  return  and  preach.  We  next  went  to  Warrenton  and  stop- 
ped at  the  hotel  but  in  an  hour  or  two  we  w^ere  taken  to  the 
parsonage  bv  Brother  Barrett,  the  P.  C.  Our  stay  here  was 
very  agreeable.  I  ])reached  three  times  and  lectured  once,  and 
the  collection  was  far  better  than  it  was  at  any  place  we  had 
previously  visited,  for  we  received  between  tw^enty  and  thirty 
dollars.  We  returned  to  Henderson  and  stopped  with  Brother 
Holmes,  a  superannuated  preacher  of  the  Virginia  Confer- 
ence, and  next  day  being  the  Sabbath,  I  preached  twice. 
While  at  church  our  valise  was  cut  open,  and  something  over 
$20  stolen,  twice  as  much  as  we  had  collected  at  the  place. 
We  left  Henderson  and  went  to  Franklinton.  Here  I  re- 
mained, preaching  and  lecturing  until  the  following  Monday, 
and  succeeded  well.  The  success  was  principally  owing  to 
the  interest  manifested  by  Brother  Maynard,  a  superannuated 
pracher.  On  Tuesday  Brother  Maynard  took  me  to  Louis- 
burg,  where  I  spent  some  three  or  four  daj's  preaching  and 
lecturing — was  kindly  received,  and  w^ell  remunerated.  We 
returned  to  Franklinton  the  next  dav  and  set  out  for  Raleigh. 
We  only  stopped  in  Raleigh  a  few  hours  to  wait  for  the  train 
bound  for  Goldsboro,  but  during  the  time  I  delivered  an  ad- 
dress to  the  young  ladies  at  Professor  Bruton's  Seminary. 

We  got  oif  the  train  at  Smithfield  depot,  took  a  hack  for 
the  town  of  Smithfield  about  four  miles  distant.  It  was 
after  night  when  w^e  arrived,  and  w^e  put  up  at  the  hotel.  The 
next  morning  Dr.  Beckwith  and  other  leading  members  of 
the  church  called  on  us,  and  w^e  were  taken  to  Dr.  Beckwith's 
residence.  At  night  I  preached,  and  continued  preaching 
for  nearly  a  week  to  full  congi-egations.  There  was  much  in- 
terest manifested,  and  the  collection  liberal.  We  then  left 
for  Goldsboro,  and  stopped  at  the  Baker  house,  but  the  next 
day  the  Rev.  S.  Milton  Frost,  D.  D.,  took  us  to  the  Wayne 


76      Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

Female  College,  of  which  he  was  President.  The  following 
Sunday,  which  was  next  day,  there  was  an  appointment  at  11 
o'clock  for  Rev.  C.  P.  Jones,  Bible  agent.  He,  however,  gen- 
erously offered  to  surrender  his  appointmnt,  but  I  did  not 
accept  the  offer,  as  I  was  unwell,  and  had  been  so  ever  since 
our  arrival.  The  colored  people  had  sent  in  a  request  for  me 
to  preach  for  them ;  the  appointment  was  made,  and  also  one 
for  the  night.  At  three  o'clock  the  benches  below  were  oc- 
cupied by  the  colored  people,  and  the  gallery  filled  with  white 
people.  At  night  the  white  pople  occupied  the  seats  below, 
and  the  colored  people  the  gallery.  The  house  was  2:)acked  to 
its  utmost  capacity,  and  I  preached  from  the  text:  '"Turn 
you  to  the  strongholds,  ye  prisoners  of  hope."  The  effect 
was  overwhelming  and  before  I  had  closed  the  sermon,  my 
voice  was  drowned  by  the  crying  and  shouting  of  the  people, 
both  below  and  in  the  gallery.  Brother  Jones  concluded,  but 
his  words  were  not  ''like  apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver," 
he  severely  reproved  the  colored  people  for  the  noise  they  bad 
made  and  interrupting  the  preacher,  when  the  white  congre- 
gation was  equally  noisy.  His  remarks  threw  a  chill  over 
the  whole  congregation,  and  though  he  did  not  mention  the 
white  peoj)le,  yet  they  felt  it  as  a  reproof,  and  as  soon  as  we 
came  out  of  the  pulpit  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
church  said,  "Brother  Jones,  why  did  you  make  any  discrimi- 
nation, for  if  there  was  any  guilt  about  it  we  were  equally  as 
guilty  as  the  colored  people."  The  truth  is.  Brother  Jones' 
remarks  were  universally  condemned.  I  continued  preach- 
ing there  for  something  over  a  week  to  large  congregations, 
but  the  gallery  was  almost  deserted  by  the  colored  people. 
The  truth  is,  they  never  got  over  the  shock  while  I  remained. 
I  was,  however,  liberally  rewarded. 

We  left  on  Monday  for  Wilson.  We  stayed  at  Wilson 
some  four  days.  I  preached  three  times  in  the  church  and 
delivered  a  lecture  in  Dr.  Deems'  Academy.  I  promised  on 
my  return  to  stop  and  preach  again.  Having  wound  up  here, 
we  took  the  hack  for  Greenville,  and  there  went  aboard  the 
steamer  Postboy  for  Washington  which  place  we  reached 
about  11  o'clock  on  Saturday.  Arrangements  had  been  made 
for  us  to  board  at  the  hotel  as  that  was  convenient  to  the 


AuTOBioGRAniY  OF  Brantley  York.  77 

church.  Soou  after  dinner  Brother  Pell,  P.  C,  called  on  us, 
and  arrangements  were  made  for  me  to  preach  at  11  o'clock 
next  dav.  A  large  congregation  had  assembled,  both  white 
and  colored,  and  much  interest  was  manifested  during  the 
sermon,  so  much  so  that  Brother  Pell  remarked  to  me,  "Were 
your  case  presented  to  the  congregation  it  would  be  an  easy 
matter  to  raise  $500.00  or  $000.00.  But,"  said  he,  "you  wnll 
get  enough  anyhow."  I  preached  again  at  night,  and  when  I 
entered  the  house  I  found  it  no  easy  matter  to  reach  the  pul- 
pit ;  for  every  aisle  was  filled  with  people  on  chairs.  They 
also  stood  round  the  windows,  and  it  was  said  that  many  left 
for  want  of  accommodation.  I  continued  there  four  or  five 
days,  preaching  every  night  but  one,  when  it  rained  all  night 
The  last  night  I  preached  the  effect  was  very  fine.  Though 
no  effort  was  made  by  the  preacher  to  take  up  a  collection,  we 
received  between  one  hundred  and  two  hundred  dollars,  and 
as  much  goods  as  we  could  carry.  While  here  I  received  a 
letter  inviting  me  to  Greenville.  The  night  before  I  left 
Washington  I  had  the  Asthma  extremely  bad,  and  we  had  to 
be  at  the  wharf  before  light.  The  Asthma  was  so  severe  that 
I  had  to  be  carried  aboard  the  steamer,  but  had  not  been 
there  more  than  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  before  I  was  perfectly 
relieved.  A  similar  thing  occurred  in  leaving  Hyde  after- 
wards, nor  did  I  ever  suffer  with  Asthma  while  traveling  by 
water.  We  reached  Grreenville  Thursday  morning  at  10 
o'clock,  and  were  conducted  to  the  house  of  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Hoyt.  We  were  kindly  received  by  Mrs.  Hoyt,  and  were 
hospitably  entertained  during  our  stay  in  Greenville,  he  not 
being  at  home.  I  preached  at  this  place  about  a  week,  but  as 
Mrs.  York  was  taken  sick,  we  were  detained  nearly  two  weeks. 
We  were  liberally  remunerated  for  what  preaching  I  did  and 
as  soon  as  Mrs.  York  was  able  to  travel  we  took  the  stage  for 
Wilson,  where  I  was  expected  to  preach,  but  was  too  sick  to  do 
it,  but  the  people  sent  in  a  liberal  donation.  On  the  next  day 
we  took  the  train  for  Goldsboro,  but  made  no  tarrying,  but 
took  the  train  on  the  A.  R.  R.*  An  appointment  was  out- 
standing in  Craven  County  for  Sunday.  On  reaching  the 
depot  where  we  had  to  leave,  we  found  no  one  there  to  meet 

♦Evidently  the  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Railroad.   [Ed.] 


78  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

us,  but  there  was  a  Baptist  preacher  aboard  who  had  an  ap- 
pointment in  the  country  for  the  next  daj.  He  was  met  by  a 
gentleman,  and  they  very  kindly  offered  us  the  buggy  while 
they  took  it  afoot.  We  stopped  at  Brother  White's,  a  member 
of  the  church  living  near  where  I  was  to  preach  the  next  day. 
We  were  kindly  received,  and  found  ourselves,  weary  as  we 
were,  pleasantly  domiciled  with  a  good  family.  We  also  met 
with  the  P.  C.  of  the  Craven  Circuit,  who  informed  me  that 
the  arrangements  were  all  made  for  me  to  preach  next  day  at 
11  o'clock.  The  morning  dawned,  but  the  sky  was  overcast 
with  dark  murky  clouds,  and  the  rain  was  fast  falling,  which 
continued  until  about  4  o'clock  in  the  evening;  consequently 
I  did  not  preach.     Soon  after  the  rain  ceased. 

AT  WASHINGTON,  N.  C. 1860  AND  1861. 

The  winter  '60  and  '61  was  spent  at  this  place.  I  reached 
here,  traveling  alone,  the  last  of  ISTovember  and  preached  on 
Sunday  and  lectured  on  Monday  night ;  but  the  weather  was 
so  inclement,  the  night  being  rainy,  cold  and  dark,  that  but 
few  attended.  A  small  class,  however,  in  Logic  and  Grammar 
was  formed.  This  session  of  twenty  days  terminated  just 
before  Christmas.  Other  classes  were  formed,  though  not 
large.  I  then  returned  and  spent  the  Christmas  holidays  at 
home.  Early  in  January  following,  I  set  out  with  William, 
my  son,  then  a  little  boy,  for  Washington,  to  meet  a  previous 
engagement.  Soon  after  reaching  the  place  I  began  teaching 
night  and  day,  and  generally  preached  twice  on  Sunday. 

A    MYSTERIOUS    PROVIDENCE. 

Just  before  this  session  closed  I  was  taken  sick  and  was 
scarcely  able  to  finish.  I  was  so  very  sick  that  Doctors  Tay- 
loe  and  Ruffin  were  called  in.  For  two  weeks  or  more  I 
suffered  intensely,  and,  as  I  was  paying  high  board,  this  ap- 
peared to  be  against  me.  In  this,  however,  I  was  mistaken, 
as  the  sequel  shows.  While  sick,  Dr.  Tayloe  became  ac- 
quainted with  York's  High  School  Grammar,  ]!^ew  York  edi- 
tion, having  purchased  a  copy  and  after  having  examined  it, 
he  said  it  surpassed  anything  he  had  ever  seen  on  the  subject 
of  Grammar,  both  as  to  matter  and  arrangement.     Conse- 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  79 

queiitly  he,  toi>etlier  with  several  others,  r(H|uested  me  to  de- 
liver II  public  lecture  as  soon  as  a])le.  To  this  I  consented. 
The  time  was  appointed  to  lecture  in  the  Court  House  on  a 
certain  night.  Having-  been  thoroughly  published,  the  house 
was  packed  to  its  utmost  capacity.  The  lecture  was  popular. 
After  it  was  closed  Charles  P.  Jones,  P.  C,  Professor  Rich- 
ardson and  Dr.  Tayloe  made  several  complimentary  remarks, 
urging  the  people  to  embrace  the  opportunity  to  acquire  a 
knowledge  of  the  English  language,  after  which  many  joined 
the  classes  who  had  not  been  in  before,  and  classes  were 
formed  in  various  places  on  Grammar  and  Logic.  A  class  of 
ladies  was  formed  in  Judge  Warren's  hall  room.  The  sev- 
eral classes  now  amounted  to  about  $20.00  per  day,  so  that 
my  sickness  proved  to  be  a  blessing.  I  continued  teaching 
until  the  first  of  March,  and  at  the  close  my  prospects  were 
never  so  bright  for  success,  as  I  was  invited  to  various  places, 
and  urged  to  return  to  Washington  early  in  May.  In  the 
meantime,  however,  the  war  cloud  was  gathering  thick  and 
dark,  and  its  portentious  thunder  proclaimed  its  speedy  ap- 
proach. On  my  return  home  I  called  on  my  publisher,  Mr. 
Pomeroy,  in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  and  urged  him  to  send  with- 
out delay  for  the  stereotyped  plates  in  ISTew  York,  as  I  be- 
lieved that  war  was  inevitable.  This  he  promised  to  do,  but 
put  off  sending  too  long,  consequently  the  platas  were  lost, 
which  was  a  serious  loss  to  me. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Commencement  of  the  War. 

About  the  middle  of  April  I  set  out  to  meet  my  first  en- 
gagement at  Morehead  City.  On  reaching  Salisbury,  as  I 
recollect  on  the  loth  of  April,  I  found  society  thoroughly 
stirred  from  center  to  circumference ;  for  President  Lincoln's 
proclamation  calling  for  75,000  soldiers  had  reached  there. 
Kow  the  brilliancy  of  my  prospects  was  obscured ;  nothing 
but  a  dark  unknown  presented  itself.  We,  for  Willie  was 
with  me,  went  on  to  meet  the  engagement,  but  found  it  diffi- 


80  ArxoBiOGEAPHY  OF  Brantley  York. 

enlt  to  get  a  seat  in  any  ear,  as  every  car  was  literally  crowded 
with  soldiers.  On  reaching  the  Citv  we  found  that  the  de- 
sire for  Grammar  had  passed  away,  and  was  supplanted  by 
that  of  war ;  for  regiment  after  regiment  of  soldiers  was  pass- 
ing, as  the  city  was  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Fort  Macon. 
Dr.  Yates  was  then  stationed  at  Morehead  City  as  P.  C.  I 
preached  in  his  church  twice  on  Sunday,  and  on  the  following 
days  delivered  a  series  of  lectures  consisting  of  four  on  one 
subject,  "The  Secret  of  Success  Disclosed."  They  were  well 
attended,  and  reasonably  remunerated.  The  lectures  having 
closed,  we  left  for  home,  but  on  our  way  called  at  Lenoir 
Institute,  where  I  taught  a  class  in  Punctuation.  Seeing  no 
other  opening,  we  returned  home.  Soon  after  reaching  there 
I  was  taken  sick,  which  resulted  in  Typhoid  fever,  conse- 
quently I  was  confined  for  several  weeks. 

HOW    I    STOOD    TOWARDS    THE    WAR. 

I  was  opposed  to  secession,  because  I  believed  that  secession 
and  war  were  synonyms,  or  meant  the  same  thing.  l\ov  was 
I  ever  a  stickler  for  the  institution  of  slavery,  for  if  the  insti- 
tution were  not  wrong,  per  se,  yet  it  was  the  cause  of  many 
and  enormous  sins.  I  also  believed  that  those  who  had  the 
least  interest  in  slavery  would  have  to  face  the  danger  and 
make  the  greatest  sacrifice  of  health  and  life.  But  after  the 
War  was  fully  inaugurated  and  inevitable,  my  sympathies 
were  with  the  South,  though  I  could  see  but  a  faint  prospect 
of  success,  for  it  appeared  to  me  that  nothing  but  the  favor 
of  Divine  Providence  could  lead  to  her  success ;  and  for  that 
favor  we  had  but  little  hope,  for  the  leaders  were  moved  by 
ambition  and  hatred. 

After  I  had  recovered  from  the  fever  I  attended  a  camp- 
meeting  which  was  then  called  Upper  Pisgah,  then  on  the 
Alexander  Circuit,  during  which  time  I  was  soliciteed  to 
teach  a  Grammar  Class  in  that  neighborhood.  After  some 
two  or  three  weeks  had  elapsed,  I  returned  and  delivered  a 
lecture,  and  a  class  was  formed,  principally  of  young  ladies. 
It  continued  forty  days,  and  closed  near  Christmas.  I  have  no 
recollection  of  engaging  in  anything  else  during  that  winter. 


AUTOBIOGRAPJIY    OF    BrANTLEY    YoRK.  81 

SECOND    YEAR    OF    THE    WAR^    "(»2. 

During  the  early  j)art  of  the  year  I  did  but  little  for  every 
avenue  to  teaching  was  nearly  closed.  I  only  taught  a  very 
small  class  at  home,  and  preached  generally  on  Sunday.  In 
the  latter  part  of  the  summer  I  was  invited  to  attend  a  camp- 
meeting  held  by  the  Protestant  Methodists,  located  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Marion.  I  set  out  alone  to  attend  it  and 
others.  I  stopped  at  Morganton  and  preached  twice  on  Sun- 
day. At  the  close  of  the  first  sermon  a  gentleman  of  Vir- 
ginia presented  me  with  a  twenty  dollar  bill.  This  came 
at  an  opportune  time,  for  my  purse  was  almost  empty.  I  was 
earnestly  requested  to  continue  longer,  but  my  health  did  not 
appear  to  justify  it.  So,  on  the  following  Monday  evening,  I 
secured  a  seat  in  the  stage  hack  for  Marion,  and  reached  that 
place  about  11  o'clock  p.  m.  I  was  met  and  kindly  received 
by  Dr.  Abernethy,  who  was  running  a  school  at  that  place. 
On  Thursday  night  I  preached  in  the  Court  House  to  a  full 
congregation,  and  lectured  on  Friday  night  in  the  Seminary. 
On  Saturday  I  was  conveyed  to  the  camp-meeting  by  Dr. 
Abernethy.  During  the  meeting  I  preached  five  times.  The 
meeting  was  a  success  and  I  received  in  donations  some  thirty 
dollars.  During  the  meeting  two  men  came  from  Cleveland 
County  to  take  me  to  a  camp-meeting  to  "be  held  in  that  county 
at  a  church  called  Clover  Hill.  On  my  return  to  Marion  I 
found  a  number  of  ladies  assembled  at  Dr.  Abernethy's,  who 
presented  me  with  two  pairs  of  pants,  a  vest  and  some  other 
articles  of  clothing.  This  was  a  God-send,  as  my  wardrobe 
had  become  very  scanty.  On  the  next  day  we  set  out  for  the 
camp-meeting  in  Cleveland,  passing  over  some  roads  so  bad 
that  a  man  had  to  walk  on  each  side  of  the  buggy  to  keep  it 
from  upsetting.  \Ye  reached  Colonel  Peeler's  late  in  the 
evening,  with  whom  I  spent  the  night.  I  was  kindly  received 
and  hospitably  entertained,  which  was  quite  refreshing,  as  I 
was  both  weary  and  sick.  On  Saturday  the  Colonel  took  me  to 
the  Camp-meeting,  where  I  was  gladly  received  by  the  P.  C. 
and  the  public  generally.  Though  unwell,  I  preached  every 
day  of  the  meeting,  and  on  Sunday  at  11  o'clock  there  was  an 
unusual  move  on  the  congregation.     The  P.  C.  received  a 


82  Autobiography  of  BRA^•TLEY  York. 

number  into  the  church.  I  received  a  donation  of  some  $30 
or  $40.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  a  man  was  there  for  me 
to  go  to  another  camp-meeting  to  be  held  in  Gaston  County. 
I  went  and  preached  twice  on  the  road,  receiving  donations 
at  each  place.  We  reached  the  campground  on  Friday  even- 
ing. I  was  cordially  received  by  the  P.  C.  and  the  people. 
I  preached  each  day  of  the  meeting,  and  the  Lord  was  pres- 
ent to  work.  From  that  point  I  was  taken  to  Xewton,  where 
I  continued  three  days,  but  was  so  unwell  that  I  preached 
only  one  sermon.  On  Friday  morning  I  went  aboard  the 
train  with  a  view  to  attending  another  camp-meeting  to  be 
held  at  J^ebo,  in  McDowell  County,  to  which  I  had  been  in- 
vited before  leaving  Marion.  At  this  meeting  I  not  only 
preached  each  day,  but  on  two  days  I  preached  twice.  Sun- 
day, though  feeble,  I  preached  in  the  morning  and  at  night. 
There  was  considerable  w^ork  during  the  meeting,  and  not  a 
few  were  added  to  the  church,  the  precise  number  not  recol- 
lected. I  received  at  this  meeting  some  $70  in  donations. 
On  Sunday  night  I  was  taken  sick,  supposed  to  have  been 
caused  by  excessive  work  and  exposure.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
it  was  with  much  difficulty  that  I  reached  home,  and  I  was 
for  several  weeks  confined  to  my  bed.  With  this  tour  termi- 
nated my  labors,  principally,  for  this  year. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Third  Year  of  the  War — 63. 

During  the  early  part  of  this  year  I  did  but  little  except 
teaching  a  small  grammar  class  and  preaching  on  Sunday. 
In  the  latter  part  of  July  I  left  home  for  another  preaching 
tour,  though  my  health  was  far  from  being  good,  and,  as  I 
had  no  traveling  companion  the  prospect  appeared  gloomy ; 
but  necessity  pressed  me  onward.  I  went  aboard  the  train  at 
Statesville  for  Camp  Vance  and  preached  several  times  to 
the  soldiers.  They  appeared  to  be  grateful  for  the  service 
rendered,  and  manifested  it  by  a  liberal  donation,  though 
Confederate  money  at  this  time  had  so  depreciated  that  it 


Autobiography  of  Brantlev  York.  83 

was  worth  but  little.  From  there  I  went  to  Morgantou,  where 
I  met  Brother  Watts,  P.  C,  of  the  Morgantoii  Circuit,  who 
informed  me  that  he  had  just  commenced  a  protracted  meet- 
ing in  the  neighborhood.  He  urged  me  to  go  out  with  him, 
to  which  I  readily  consented  as  I  had  no  appointments  be- 
yond. I  remained  some  three  days  preaching  at  this  meeting, 
but  on  the  last  day  but  one,  I  was  taken  quite  sick,  and  was 
taken  back  to  Morgantou,  and  Dr.  Happole  was  called  in. 
For  several  days  I  was  treated  by  him,  being  domiciled  in  the 
parsonage.  As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  travel,  I  set  out  with 
Brother  Watts,  and  preached  at  various  places  on  his  work. 
The  preaching  at  Gilboa  Church  had  a  good  effect.  A  Confed- 
erate soldier  present  was  deeply  impressed  and  took  up  a 
collection  without  mentioning  it  to  the  P.  C.  Brother  Watts 
appointed  a  protracted  meeting  to  begin  at  that  place  four 
weeks  hence,  and  I  was  strongly  urged  to  attend.  From  this 
place  we  went  to  Snow  Hill,  near  Mr.  Rutherford's.  Here  I 
was  met  by  Marcus  Kaylor,  a  local  Methodist  preacher,  who 
took  me  to  Brother  Gardener's,  his  father-in-law.  There 
was  an  appointment  outstanding  at  a  church  nearby  on  the 
following  Thursday.  The  special  object  of  the  meeting  was 
to  pray  for  the  soldiers  and  the  success  of  the  Confederate 
Arms.  Many  people  were  out.  By  request  I  preached  to 
them.  The  sermon  had  a  fine  effect  on  the  audience,  and  sev- 
eral presented  themselves  at  the  altar  as  penitents.  The 
meeting  was  protracted,  and  I  continued  preaching  every 
day,  and  frequently  twice  a  day  for  some  ten  days.  It  re- 
sulted in  much  good.  Brothers  Kaylor,  England,  and  some 
others  aided  in  the  meeting.  The  camp-meeting  at  iS^ebo  was 
now  approaching  and  I  was  importuned  to  attend  it.  While 
resting  a  few  days  previous  to  the  meeting  I  visited  Marion 
and  preached  a  number  of  times  there.  The  time  for  the 
m.eeting  having  arrived.  Brother  Kaylor  took  me  to  it.  I 
remained  until  its  close,  preaching  on  each  day.  The  meet- 
ing was  a  success.  N^ot  a  few  professed  faith  in  Christ,  the 
number  not  remembered.  After  it  had  closed  I  went  to  Gil- 
boa  Church  to  attend  the  protracted  meeting.  I  preached  on 
Friday,  and  was  taken  sick  soon  after.  I  was  kindly  enter- 
tained by  John  Dorsey,  a  local  Methodist  preacher,  but  not- 


84  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

withstanding  I  was  sick,  I  preached  on  Saturday  and  Sun- 
day. On  Sunday  the  prospect  was  exceedingly  fine.  Perhaps 
as  many  as  twenty  or  twenty-five  penitents  were  at  the  altar. 
I  was  too  sick  to  continue  longer  at  the  meeting  and  it  was 
continued  by  some  of  the  local  brethren.  Brother  Watts  took 
me  that  afternoon  to  Morganton.  It  was  my  intention  to 
take  the  train  next  day  and  go  home,  but  I  foimd  myself  on 
Monday  morning  not  able  to  sit  up.  Dr.  Happole  was  again 
called  in,  and  I  was  subjected  to  a  course  of  medicine.  For 
several  days  I  was  confined  in  the  Parsonage,  but  never  could 
anyone  be  more  kindly  treated,  especially  by  Sister  Watts, 
who  lingered  by  my  bedside  as  a  guardian  angel,  and  seemed 
to  anticipate  every  want.  As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  travel  I 
left  for  home.  On  reaching  there  I  found  a  protracted  meet- 
ing begun  by  Brother  Parker,  P.  C,  and  Brother  Stevenson, 
a  local  preacher  from  Tennessee.  Though  quite  feeble  I 
preached  on  Sunday.  During  the  meeting  many  were  added 
to  the  church,  and  the  members  were  greatly  revived. 

While  at  the  camp-meeting  at  Nebo,  a  gentleman  by  the 
name  of  Greenlee,  who  was  confined  at  home  by  sickness,  re- 
quested me  through  his  wife  to  come  and  preach  in  his  house, 
as  he  was  very  desirous  to  hear  me,  and  if  I  could  not  come 
directly  from  the  meeting  to  come  as  soon  as  convenient.  I 
could  not  go  then  as  I  had  promised  to  attend  the  protracted 
meeting  at  Gilboa  Church,  but  intended  to  visit  him  as  soon 
as  this  meeting  should  close,  but  sickness  prevented  me.  Con- 
sequently I  went  home,  but  as  soon  as  I  was  able  to  travel  and 
preach,  I  set  out  with  a  view  to  attending  to  his  request, 
preaching  at  various  places  on  the  way.  But  on  reaching  Esq. 
Murphy's,  three  miles  from  Marion,  I  learned  that  Mr. 
Greenlee  was  dead.  I  continued  there  some  three  or  four 
days,  praching  in  a  church  nearby  by  the  name  of  ]\Iurphy's 
Chapel.  Mr.  Murphy  was  a  kind,  liberal  man,  but  he  was 
not  a  Christian.  His  wife,  however,  was  a  devoted  Chris- 
tian, and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  From  this 
place  I  went  to  the  Widow  Greenlee's  who  received  me  cor- 
dially and  treated  me  with  no  little  kindness.  Here  I  met 
with  a  daughter  of  General  Jackson,  of  Tennessee,  who  was 
a  refugee  from  that  State.    She  was  a  lady  of  intelligence  and 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  85 

agreeable  manners.  On  Sunday  following  I  went  to  Marion 
and  preached  twice,  and  then  left  for  Rutherford  College. 
After  reaching  there,  I  preached  some  three  or  four  nights  in 
succession.  The  people  were  attentive,  and  appeared  to  be 
much  impressecd.  Mr.  Hayes,  the  father-in-law  of  Dr.  Abr- 
nethy,  was  present,  and  as  he  left  for  home  Sunday  after- 
noon, I  took  a  seat  in  the  buggy  with  him,  and  on  the  next 
day  I  was  sent  to  Esq.  Marshal's,  and  on  the  day  following 
I  was  sent  to  Taylorsville,  and  from  there  home.  I  reached 
there  only  a  few  days  before  my  youngest  son,  Davidson  Vic- 
tor, was  born.  His  birthday  was  the  24th  of  November, 
1863. 

During  this  and  the  year  next  preceding,  I  assisted  the 
preacher  in  charge  on  the  Alexander  Circuit  in  holding  sev- 
eral meetings,  viz. :  Upper  Pisgah,  Liberty,  Stony  Point,  and 
Hopewell.    At  these  meetings  much  good  was  accomplished. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Fourth  Year  of  the  War. 

During  the  winter  of  '63-'64  I  taught  several  Grammar 
Classes  at  York  Collegiate  Institute,  and  preached  on  Sun- 
day when  able.  As  soon  as  warm  weather  returned  I  was 
invited  to  make  another  preaching  tour  in  the  western  portion 
of  the  State,  but  the  night  before  I  was  to  set  out  I  was 
taken  very  sick,  which  sickness  continued  several  weeks ; 
consequently  I  was  prevented  from  making  the  tour.  As 
soon  as  I  was  able  to  preach.  Brother  R.  T.  M.  Stephenson 
and  myself  held  a  protracted  meeting  at  New  Schoolhouse, 
during  which  we  have  reason  to  believe  good  was  accom- 
plished. I  also  assisted  Brother  M.  V.  Sherrill  in  holding  a 
meeting  at  Hopewell,  which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of 
several,  and  also  several  accessions  to  the  church.  On  the 
first  of  October  I  was  sent  for  to  go  to  Low  Pisgah  to  help 
carry  on  a  meeting  which  had  been  commenced  by  some  other 
preachers  who  had  left  the  meeting.  I  went,  and  the  first 
sermon  I  preached  was  on  Thursday  night.     During  this  ser- 


86  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

vice  there  were  some  two  or  three  converts.  I  continued  at 
night  only  until  Sunday  night,  with  more  or  less  success 
each  night.  I  preached  twice  on  Sunday.  On  Sunday  night 
we  had  twenty-one  converts  and  scarcely  was  there  a  sinner 
who  was  not  a  penitent.  As  well  as  I  recollect,  the  same 
number  joined  the  church. 

During  this  year  it  was  my  sad  duty  to  preach  the  funeral 
sermon  of  several  Confederate  soldiers.  The  War  was  now 
hastening  to  a  close.  On  the  following  April,  General  Lee 
surrendered,  which  was  virtually  the  end  of  the  War.  Dur- 
ing those  dark  days  of  War,  Mrs.  York  remained  at  home, 
and  with  some  small  boys,  cultivated  a  small  farm,  the  prod- 
ucts of  which  were  the  principal  support  of  the  family.  Xot 
only  so,  but  the  family  was  clothed  by  her  untiring  industry, 
nor  did  she  ever  murmur  or  complain  of  her  hard  lot.  And 
last,  but  not  least,  she  was  untiring  in  waiting  on  me  when 
sick. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

1865. 

The  End  of  the  War.    Unsettled  State  of  Society  and 

Scarceness  of  Provisions. — School  Taught  at  York 

Collegiate  Institute — Tv^o  Sons  in  the  War. 

The  War  was  now  ended,  leaving  society  in  an  unsettled 
and  almost  lawless  condition.  Soldiers  were  returning  home. 
Deserters  were  coming  out  of  their  lurking  places  and  rob- 
bers in  many  places  were  prowling  about  like  hungry  wolves. 
Provisions  were  exceedingly  scarce.  The  people  were  almost 
without  a  currency,  but  gradually  law  and  order  were  restor- 
ed and  schools  began  to  spring  up.  During  this  year  I  taught 
two  sessions  at  York  Collegiate  Institute.  Col.  [G.  W.] 
Flowers  was  associated  with  me  as  teacher  during  the  first 
session.  Considering  the  times  the  school  was  well  attended, 
but  to  pay  in  money  was  almost  impossible.  By  the  income 
of  the  school  and  the  products  of  the  little  farm,  my  family 
was  supported.  During  the  year  I  preached  at  various 
places,  and  aided  the  P.  C.  in  several  protracted  meetings, 
and  some  two  camp-meetings.     I  had  two  sons  in  the  War. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  87 

R.  W.  York  went  from  Wake  County  as  Captain  of  Com- 
pany I  of  the  0th  Regiment;  afterwards  he  was  promoted, 
and  was  Major  of  the  same  regiment  during  the  War.  In 
the  latter  part  of  the  War  he  was  wounded,  and  did  but  little 
more  active  service.  My  other  son,  W.  C.  York,  belonged  to 
what  was  called  the  Junior  Reserves,  and  was  lieutenant  of 
the  company  to  which  he  belonged.  He  returned  home  un- 
hurt. .    ; 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

1866. 

Traveling  and  Lecturing  and  Teaching  Classes — At 
Snow  Creek  Camp  Meeting  and  Sunday-School  Con- 
vention AT  Rock  Spring. 

Early  in  this  year  I  commenced  traveling,  having  a  young 
man  by  the  name  of  Blankenship  as  my  traveling  companion. 
The  scene  of  our  travels  was  various,  but  the  most  of  our 
time  was  spent  in  the  southern  portion  of  Iredell  County. 
During  this  time  I  taught  Grammar  and  Arithmetic  classes. 
Classes  were  formed  at  McKendrie's  Chapel,  Wesley's  Chap- 
el, and  other  places,  names  not  recollected.  I  delivered  public 
lectures  in  various  places  and  preached  frequently,  generally 
twice  on  the  Sabbath. 

Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  year  Mr.  Blankenship  and 
I  dissolved  partnership.  After  he  left  I  taught  classes  in 
Lincoln  and  Catawba  counties.  Though  traveling  alone  for 
the  most  part,  I  got  along  well  and  succeeded  well.  During 
this  year  I  attended  a  camp-meeting  at  Snow  Creek,  and  also 
attended  a  Sunday  School  Convention  at  Rock  Spring  Camp- 
ground, which  continued  several  davs.  Various  addresses 
were  delivered  by  different  men,  and  four  sermons  were 
preached  on  Sunday.  This  was  the  most  interesting  Sunday 
school  celebration  it  has  ever  been  my  pleasure  to  attend 
Some  six  or  eight  schools  were  present,  and  were  examined 
by  their  superintendents  respectively. 


88      Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Classes  Taught  at  Catawba  Station — Three  Camp 

Meetings  Visited — A  Preaching  and  Visiting  Tour — 

Preaching  at  Various  Places — Meeting  with  Many 

Brethren  and  Sisters  for  the  Last  Time. 

Early  in  the  year  '67  I  taught  a  class  in  Grammar  and 
Arithmetic  at  Catawba  Station,  which  continued  forty  days. 
At  the  close  of  the  class  I  was  taken  quite  sick,  but  preached 
on  the  way  home.  After  my  health  was  restored  I  attended 
and  preached  at  three  camp-meetings  in  succession,  viz. : 
Snow  Creek,  Rock  Springs,  and  Sharon.  At  each  of  these 
meetings  Rev.  Thos.  G.  Lowe  was  present  and  preached, 
though  then  in  feeble  health.  I  hardly  ever  heard  his  equal 
as  a  pulpit  orator,  but  life  was  fast  ebbing  out,  and  in  a  few 
months  he  died.  In  September  of  this  year,  Mrs.  York  and 
I  set  out  to  visit  relatives  and  friends  in  Randolph  and  Guil- 
ford. On  our  way  I  lectured  and  preached  at  Mocksville 
and  also  visited  a  school  in  the  vicinity,  and  at  the  request 
of  the  teacher,  lectured  to  the  students.  At  Thomasville,  at 
the  request  of  the  president.  Rev.  D.  R.  Bruton,  I  lectured  to 
the  young  ladies  of  Thomasville  Female  Seminary.  We 
spent  a  few  hours  at  Trinity  College,  where  I  met  with  Rev. 
Peter  Doub,  D.  D.,  for  the  last  time.  His  health  was  then 
feeble,  and  in  two  or  three  years  after  he  passed  away.  We 
reached  Union  Factory,  now  Randleman,  just  at  the  time 
the  Methodist  Protestants  were  commencing  a  protracted 
meeting.  At  the  request  of  many  we  promised  to  return  on 
Sunday  morning  to  aid  in  the  meeting.  On  Saturday  I 
preached  at  Cool  Springs  Church,  a  church  to  which  I  used 
to  resort  in  my  boyhood  days.  Here  I  met  with  Brother 
Charley  Philips,  that  good  and  useful  man  who  has  since 
passed  to  his  reward.  On  Sunday  morning  following  we 
returned  to  Union,  and  preached  twice  that  day,  and  also  on 
Monday  and  Tuesday,  and  good  doubtless  was  done.  On 
Wednesday  I  went  to  fill  an  appointment  outstanding  at 
Gray's  Chapel.  Here  I  met  with  many  of  my  old  friends 
from  different  neighborhoods.  The  meeting  was  a  feast  of 
love  and  joy.     Since  then  nearly  all  of  those  dear  brethren 


AUTOBIOCJUAPUY    OF    BuANTLEV     YoRK.  89 

and  sisters  with  whom  I  used  to  associate  and  to  whom  I  used 
to  prcaeh  have  gone  to  their  reward.  On  the  day  following 
we  returned  to  Union  to  meet  an  appointment  on  Thursday 
night  which  had  been  made.  We  found  there  a  very  large 
congregation  assembled.  After  the  church  had  been  packed 
to  its  utmost  capacity,  it  was  believed  that  scarcely  half  of 
the  people  had  entered.  On  the  Saturday  following  I  preached 
at  Level  Cross  to  a  full  congregation,  and  on  Sunday  morning 
at  Rehoboth,  about  six  miles  south  of  Greensboro.  The 
crowd  was  large  and  the  effect  tremendous.  Here  I  was  re- 
quested by  Brother  Westbrooks  to  preach  at  Greensboro.  In 
the  afternoon  I  preached  at  Red  Hill  Church  of  the  M.  P. 
Church.  The  effect  was  good,  and  I  was  urged  to  hold  a 
protracted  meeting  at  this  place.  To  this  I  consented.  The 
appointment  was  made  for  it  to  commence  on  Thursday  fol- 
lowing. On  Monday  we  went  to  Greensboro.  I  preached  on 
Monday  night  to  a  full  house,  and  several  penitents  were  at 
the  altar.  On  Tuesday  night  I  preached  again,  perhaps  to 
a  larger  congregation.  Some  three  or  four  professed  faith 
in  Christ.  On  Wednesday  we  returned  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Red  Hill,  and  on  Thursday  began  preaching,  according  to 
appointment,  assisted  by  Rev.  Samuel  Lineberry,  brother  of 
Mrs.  York,  and  Brother  Gambol,  a  zealous  and  efficient  ex- 
horter  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  It  con- 
tinued until  Sunday  without  apparently  accomplishing  much 
good,  but  on  Sunday  I  preached  twice,  and  the  Word  took 
effect,  and  on  Sunday  night  there  were  perhaps  some  twelve 
or  fifteen  penitents,  and  several  converts.  We  held  meeting 
on  Monday  and  Tuesday  nights,  and  the  work  continued  to 
increase,  and  Tuesday  night,  as  well  as  I  recollect,  there  were 
some  eight  or  ten  converts.  The  meeting  was  now  left  in  the 
hands  of  others.  Wednesday  after  dinner  we  set  out  for 
home.  We  reached  Turnersburg  on  Saturday  and  stopped 
with  Brother  Wilford  Turner,  and  were  kindly  received. 
Then  we  learned  that  a  camp-meeting  had  just  begun  at  Har- 
mony Hill,  a  union  campgi'ound  some  seven  miles  distant. 
We  were  so  strongly  urged  to  attend  it,  that  though  we  had 
been  from  home  so  long,  yet  we  consented  to  go.  I  preached 
on  Saturday  night  and  twice  on  Sunday.     On  Monday  morn- 


90  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

ing  we  left  for  home  and  reached  there  that  day,  and  found 
all  well. 


CHAPTEK  XVIII. 

Logic  Classes  Taught  at  Statesville — A  Class  Formed 
AT  Olin  High  School^  Oxe  in  Salisbury — Preached  in 
Three  Different  Places — Political  Excitement — Col- 
ored Churches — Grammar  Classes  Taught  in  States- 
ville— A  Visit  to  Major  York's — Grammar  Classes 
Taught  in  Chatham  and  Wake — Ruffin  Badger 
Institute. 

Soon  after  reaching  home  as  stated  in  a  former  chapter,  I 
was  employed  by  some  preachers  to  go  to  Statesville  to  teach 
them  Logic,  as  a  preparation  for  an  examination  at  the  ap- 
proaching conference.  While  there  I  was  invited  by  Prof.  P. 
L.  Abernethy  to  visit  Rutherford  College;  but  before  I  was 
through  with  the  course  on  instruction  I  was  taken  very  sick, 
and  Dr.  Douthet,  who  had  been  a  student  of  mine  at  Clemons- 
ville  High  School,  was  immediately  called  in.  For  several 
days  I  was  treated  by  him,  who  gave  me  the  closest  possible 
attention.  Soon  after  I  had  recovered  I  went  to  Olin  High 
School  and  preached  on  Sunday  and  Sunday  night,  and  lec- 
tured on  Monday  night.  A  class  in  Grammar  and  Arithmetic 
was  formed.  I  commenced  teaching  about  the  1st  of  Decem- 
ber. I  continued  there  during  the  winter  of  '67  and  '68,  and 
wound  up  the  first  of  April.  Before  leaving  there  I  received 
a  letter  inviting  me  to  Salisbury.  About  the  middle  of  April 
I  visited  that  place.  I  delivered  a  public  lecture  there,  and 
formed  a  class  in  Grammar  and  Logic.  The  Grammar  was 
instructed  in  the  day  and  the  Logic  at  night.  Rev.  Dr.  Rum- 
ple, pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Rev.  C.  Plyler,  pastor 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  Captain  Wharton,  principal 
of  the  Salisbury  High  School,  were  members  of  the  Logic 
class.  I  continued  teaching  there  until  sometime  in  June. 
While  there  I  generally  preached  twice  on  Sunday,  princi- 
pally in  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  but  occasionally  in  the 
Presbyterian  and  in  the  afternoon  in  the  Court  House  to  the 


AuTOBioGKAniY  OF  Brantley  Yokk.  91 

negro  congregation.  But  whites  as  well  as  blacks  were  lis- 
teners. 

There  were  a  great  many  colored  people  in  towii  at  this 
time,  and  threee  churches  had  been  erected  by  them,  or  rather 
for  them,  viz. :  Baptist,  Presbyterian,  and  ]\Iethodist.  But 
the  Methodist,  either  by  accident  or  incendiary,  had  just  been 
burned,  hence  the  reason  of  their  holding  their  services  in  the 
Court  House.  The  Baptist  colored  people  used  their  house 
both  as  a  church  and  as  a  school-room.  As  a  school-room  it 
was  well  furnished  with  maps,  charts  and  other  apparatus. 
Two  well-educated  ladies  from  the  Xorth  taught  the  school, 
but  because  they  taught  the  colored  people  the  people  of  Salis- 
bury did  not  associate  with  them,  hence  they  were  seldom  seen 
at  church,  except  the  colored.  They  were  efficient,  industri- 
ous teachers,  instructing  the  children  by  day  and  the  adults  by 
night.  This  was  a  time  of  great  political  excitement.  The 
new  Constitution  was  before  the  people  to  be  received  or  re- 
jected. The  Democrats  opposed  and  the  Eepublicans  were 
in  favor  of  it.  Scarcely  a  week  passed  while  I  was  there  but 
a  political  meeting  of  some  kind  was  convened  in  the  town 
hall.  Many  speeches  were  delivered  pro  and  con,  but  when 
the  election  came  on  the  new  Constitution  was  adopted. 

As  I  passed  through  Statesville  on  my  return  home  I  was 
strongly  solicited  to  teach  a  class  in  that  place.  After  a  few 
days'  rest  at  home  I  visited  Statesville,  delivered  a  public  lec- 
ture and  formed  a  class  both  for  day  and  night.  Dr.  E.  A. 
Yates  was  then  pastor  of  the  church.  About  the  time  I  began 
teaching  one  of  his  children  died.  In  consequence,  his  wife 
refused  to  stay  longer,  hence  they  both  went  to  Beaufort,  and 
he  returned  no  more  as  pastor,  and  I  filled  his  place  while 
teaching  the  class.  A  quarterly  meeting  that  had  been  ap- 
pointed for  that  place  was  neither  attended  by  presiding 
elder  nor  preacher  in  charge,  presiding  elder  being  sick. 
Hence  I  had  all  the  preaching  to  do. 

In  a  few  days  after  the  closing  of  this  class  Mrs.  York  and 
myself  set  out  for  Chatham  County,  with  a  view  to  visiting 
our  son,  Major  York,  whom  we  had  not  seen  since  the  War. 
We  reached  there  on  Saturday,  the  19th  day  of  July,  '68, 
and  on  the  next  day  I  preached  at  O'Kelly's  Chapel  in  the 


92  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

morning  and  in  the  evening  at  Martha's  Chapel.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  I  preached  at  O'Kellev's  Chapel  bj  request,  and 
also  delivered  a  public  lecture.  On  the  following  Wednesday 
I  delivered  a  lecture  at  Martha's  Chapel,  and  on  the  following 
Sunday  preached  at  Mount  Pisgah,  in  the  Baptist  church, 
and  lectured  on  Monday.  A  large  Grammar  class  was  formed 
at  this  church.  Scholars  came  from  O'Kelly's  and  Martha's 
Chapel  also.  This  class  continued  forty  days,  after  which  I 
taught  a  short  session  at  Martha's  Chapel.  At  its  close  I 
taught  twenty  days  at  Morrisville.  At  the  close  of  this,  an- 
other twenty  days'  class  was  taught  in  the  vicinity  of  that 
place.  During  these  several  classes  I  was  strongly  solicited 
to  establish  a  regular  academical  school  at  what  was  formerly 
called  jS'ortheast  Academy.  But  as  the  house  was  removed 
from  its  former  location,  it  was  enlarged  and  improved.  After 
the  school  had  opened  it  was  named  Ruffin  Badger  Institute. 
As  Christmas  was  now  approaching,  and  the  appointment 
having  been  made  for  opening  the  school  at  Ruffin  Badger 
Institute  early  in  January,  we  returned  to  spend  Christmas 
holidavs  at  home. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Ruffin  Badger  Institute — Educational  Association 
Organized — Teachers'  Meeting  Formed — Elected  Pro- 
fessor IN  Rutherford  College — Preparing  "Man  of 
Business''  for  Publication — Death  of  Fannie  S. 
York — Organization  of  Local  Ministers' 
Conference. 

On  the  first  of  January,  '69,  the  regular  school  organized 
at  Ruffin  Badger  Institute  was  opened.  It  was  well  attended. 
ISTearly  forty  were  enrolled.  I  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Rufus 
Barbee  and  Miss  Dell  Moring;  also  Mrs.  York  regularly 
heard  a  Grammar  class  in  the  afternoon.  During  the  session 
I  preached  at  O'Kelly's  Chapel,  Mount  Pisgah,  Massey's 
Chapel,  and  occasionally  at  various  other  places. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  93 

A  Literary  Society  was  early  organized  and  was  well  at- 
tended, not  only  by  the  students,  but  leading  men  of  the  neigh- 
borhood took  an  active  part  in  the  debates.  At  the  close  of 
the  session  the  school  was  addressed  by  John  Manning,  Esq. 
Other  gentlemen  also  made  pertinent  remarks  and  as  far  as 
I  know  the  examination  of  the  students  gave  entire  satisfac- 
tion. During  the  iirst  session  the  Chatham  Educational  As- 
sociation was  formed,  and  Maj.  R.  W.  York  was  elected  presi- 
dent. Its  first  meeting  was  held  at  Pittsboro.  According  to 
previous  aiTangement  I  delivered  an  address  before  the  Asso- 
ciation. Subject:  "The  English  Language — the  Importance 
of  Its  Study."  The  meeting  was  well  attended,  and  very  in- 
teresting, various  subjects  being  discussed. 

This  Association  continued  in  active  operation  for  four 
years,  holding  its  regular  meetings,  discussing  various  sub- 
jects on  education,  also  having  regular  addresses  delivered  by 
educated  gentlemen.  Meetings  were  also  held  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  teachers,  educated  men  being  appointed  to  deliver  lec- 
tures on  various  scientific  subjects.  The  first  teachers'  meet- 
ing the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  to  deliver  lectures 
to  the  teachers:  Rev.  Mr.  Sutton  on  Geogi'aphy;  Captain 
Denson,  on  Mathematics ;  and  myself  on  English  Language 
and  Elocution. 

The  school  at  Rufiin  Badger  continued  in  successful  opera- 
tion for  four  years.  At  the  close  of  the  spring  session  of  '71 
a  silver-mounted  cane  was  presented  to  me  as  a  token  of  the 
appreciation  of  my  services  both  in  the  pulpit  and  chair,  by 
members  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  trustees,  faculty  and  students 
of  RuflSn  Badger. 

At  the  commencement  of  Rutherford  College  in  May,  72,  I 
was  elected  Professor  of  Belles-Lettres,  embracing  the  Eng- 
lish Language,  Logic,  Rhetoric  and  Elocution.  At  the  close  of 
the  last  session.  Dee.  13,  '72,  I  resigned  as  principal  of  Ruffin 
Badger,  at  which  time  a  gold  medal  was  presented  to  me  by 
the  patrons  and  students  as  an  appreciation  of  the  services 
rendered.  Between  the  time  of  my  resignation  and  my  enter- 
ing upon  my  professorship  at  Rutherford  College,  I  was  en- 
gaged in  preparing  "The  Man  of  Business  and  Railroad  Cal- 
culator" for  publication,  traveling,  lecturing,  and  teaching 


94  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

classes.  On  the  sixth  of  June,  '71,  my  daughter  Fannie,  who 
had  been  for  sometime  assisting  me  in  the  school,  died,  and 
was  buried  at  O'Kelly's  Chapel,  and  her  funeral  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  L.  Branson,  A.  M.,  of  Raleigh,  on  the  20th 
day  of  August.  Her  death  was  to  me  a  bitter  and  protracted 
grief,  for  she  had  been  for  some  years  my  eyes  to  see,  and 
hand  to  write;  but  I  have  the  best  of  reasons  for  believing 
that  my  loss  was  her  eternal  gain.  She  had  been  a  member 
of  the  church  from  the  age  of  12,  and  her  life  was  in  every 
way  consistent  with  her  profession. 

While  principal  of  the  Ruffin  Badger  Institute,  the  N'orth 
Carolina  Local  Ministers'  Conference  was  organized  at  Dur- 
ham, ^.  C.  I  was  elected  President,  and  Rev.  L.  Branson, 
A.  M.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  Several  local  preachers  were 
in  attendance  and  preached  on  various  subjects.  This  Con- 
ference has  continued  in  successful  operation,  holding  its 
annual  meetings  at  various  places  ever  since.  The  object  of 
this  conference  is  solely  to  increase  the  usefulness  of  its  mem- 
bers and  to  extend  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  Those  ministers 
who  criticised  and  frowned  upon  this  organization  must 
surely  have  been  wholly  ignorant  of  its  true  character. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Lecturing  Tour,  Visiting  Graham,  IST.  C,  Sylvian  Acad- 
emy^ Mount   Vernon   Springs — Rutherford  College 
Commencement — Class  Taught  at  Columbia  and 
Franklinsville  Factories — Assumes  the  Duties  of 
Professorship  at  Rutherford  College. 

In  the  spring  of  '72,  while  "The  Man  of  Business"  was 
passing  through  the  press,  I,  accompanied  by  my  son  Wil- 
liam, made  a  short  lecturing  tour.  Visited,  lectured  and 
preached  at  Graham.  We  were  cordially  received  and  enter- 
tained by  the  professors,  D.  A.  and  W.  S.  Long,  who  were 
conducting  a  school  of  high  grade  at  this  place.  I  lectured 
some  two  or  three  times  in  the  school  building;  and  preached 
in  the  Christian  Church  on  Sunday  to  a  full  congregation. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  95 

We  then  visited  Sylvian  Academy,  and  were  welcomed  by 
Professor  Thomson,  who  was  rnnning  a  school  there.  Notice 
being  given  to  the  neighborhood,  I  lectured  to  a  large  audi- 
ence at  :2  o'clock  p.  m.  We  then  went  to  Mount  Vernon 
Spring,  in  Chatham  County.  Captain  Siler  was  then  prin- 
cipal of  a  school  at  that  place.  I  lectured  at  night  on  educa- 
tion, to  a  full  house.  By  request  of  the  Captain  and  others 
I  lectured  again  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.  We  then  returned  home, 
and  after  one  day's  rest  I  visited  the  commencement  at  Ruth- 
erford College.  It  was  there  arranged  for  me  to  take  posi- 
tion as  professor  at  the  opening  of  the  fall  session.  Some- 
time in  the  month  of  June  following,  I  set  out  with  the  view 
to  go  to  Rutherford  College  by  private  conveyance,  accom- 
panied by  my  son  William.  I  preached  and  lectured  at  Col- 
umbia Factory,  and  a  Grammar  Class  was  formed.  I  also 
preached  and  lectured  at  Franklinsville,  and  a  class  was 
formed  there.  We  continued  here  some  five  weeks,  as  the 
classes  were  taught  at  night  only,  both  at  the  same  time  by 
myself  and  William,  alternating.  While  teaching  these 
classes  I  preached  on  the  Sabbath  at  several  places,  viz. : 
Columbia,  Franklinsville,  Gray's  Chapel,  and  Cool  Springs. 
At  the  close  of  these  classes,  Mrs.  York  and  a  part  of  the 
family  having  joined  me,  we  went  directly  to  Rutherford 
College,  and  entered  upon  my  professorship  on  the  first  day 
of  August,  '73. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Begin  Labor  in  Rutherford  College  as  Professor  and 
Agent — Teaching  Side  Classes — Xew  College  Build- 
ing Erected — Lecturing  in  College  on  Social  Law  and 
Etiquette — Visiting  Various  Camp-Meetings — Revival 
Among  the  Students — Resignation  as  Agent  and  Pro- 
fessor. 

At  this  time  the  faculty  of  Rutherford  College  consisted  of 
three  Professors,  a  Music  teacher,  and  a  Primary  teacher. 
Rev.  R.  L.  Abernethy,  D.  D.,  Professor  of  Moral  and  Mental 


96  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

Philosophy  and  Modern  Languages;  J.  T.  Abernethy,  Pro- 
fessor of  Greek  and  Latin  Languages ;  and  I,  Professor  of 
Belles-Lettres — embracing  higher  English,  Logic,  Rhetoric, 
and  Elocution ;  Miss  Emma  Abernethy,  Music  teacher,  and 
the  Primary  teacher.  A  short  time  after  entering  upon  the 
duties  of  my  profession  I  was  elected  Agent  of  the  College  by 
the  Trustees,  and  for  some  two  or  three  years  performed  a 
double  work  of  teacher  and  agent.  I  also  frequently  taught 
side  classes  in  Logic  and  Grammar,  consequently  my  labors 
were  severe.  During  the  term  of  my  agency,  a  new  college 
building  was  erected,  much  larger  and  more  commodious  than 
the  former  one.  The  college  was  well  attended  by  students. 
The  number  would  average  perhaps  150  per  session.  Each 
year,  while  in  the  College,  I  delivered  at  night  a  series  of  lec- 
tures on  Social  Law  and  Etiquette,  frequently  preached  in  the 
College,  at  Hickory,  Morganton,  and  Lenoir,  and  visited  and 
preached  at  various  Camp-meetings,  viz. :  Rocky  Creek,  Nebo, 
Mount  Pleasant,  Bald's  Creek,  Liberty,  Mount  Pisgah  and 
Rocky  Springs. 

I  continued  as  professor  in  the  college  for  nearly  five  years, 
commencing  1st  Augiist,  '73,  and  resigning  at  the  close  of 
the  fall  session  of  '77.  The  college  did  and  has  done  much 
toward  educating  the  masses,  for  none  were  neglected  be- 
cause they  had  no  means  to  pay.  The  President  was  unusu- 
ally liberal,  consequently  he  aided  those  that  could  not  help 
themselves.  He  was  prompt  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
as  President,  punctual  to  the  hours  of  beginning  and  ending. 
He  was  an  industrious  and  laborious  teacher,  pleasant  and 
agreeable  in  his  manners — in  short,  he  has  done  much,  very 
much  for  the  cause  of  education.  He  is  still  President,  labor- 
ing and  teaching,  though  he  is  now  growing  old  (March  24, 
1888).  He  is  also  a  popular  preacher  and  succeessful  lec- 
turer. He  is  also  untiring  in  the  defense  of  Temperance  and 
Prohibition. 

Each  year  we  had  one  and  sometimes  two  revivals  of  reli- 
gion in  the  College.  During  these  revivals  many  professed 
faith  in  Christ.  Many  became  ministers  of  the  gospel,  both 
traveling  and  local.    At  the  close  of  the  fall  session  of  '77,  as 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.       97 

has  already  been  stated,  I  resigned  as  professor,  having  some- 
time previous  resigned  as  agent,  though  we  s-till  lived  at  the 
college  until  August,  '81. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Leaving  for  Arkansas — Arrival — Disappointment — 
Lecturing  and  Teaching  Classes  in  Russellville — at 

« 

Dardenelle — At    Athens — Lewisburg — Conway — Lone 
Oak — Arrival  at  Home. 

Some  two  months  before  I  resig^led  my  position  with 
Rutherford  College,  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Tillman 
Man  of  Russellville,  Ark.,  a  man  wath  whom  I  had  been  ac- 
quainted in  this  State,  stating  that  the  Board  of  Education  of 
Russellville  had  elected  me  principal  of  a  High  School  at  that 
place,  with  a  salary  of  $1,200,  to  be  paid  partly  from  the 
public  fund  and  partly  from  subscription.  Mr.  Man  was 
not  a  member  of  the  board,  but  wrote  for  the  secretary,  as  he 
was  acquainted  with  me.  This  correspondence  was  kept  up 
until  I  resigned  my  position  in  the  college.  Having  no  doubt 
as  to  the  truth  of  what  was  wn-itten,  at  the  close  of  the  fall 
session  of  '77  I  resigned  my  position  in  that  institution,  and 
on  the  20th  day  of  January,  '78,  I  and  my  son  Bascom  set 
out  for  Arkansas,  and  on  2nd  day  of  February  reached  Rus- 
sellville. On  the  following  day,  being  Sunday,  I  preached  in 
the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon  I  an- 
nounced that  I  would  lecture  on  Monday  night  in  the  school 
building,  called  the  college,  and  that  I  wished  to  meet  the 
Board  of  Education  at  the  earliest  possible  day,  as  w^e  were 
present  and  wished  to  commence  teaching  at  the  earliest  op- 
portunity. My  surprise  may  be  imagined  but  never  described 
when,  after  the  benediction  had  been  pronounced,  the  preacher 
in  charge  announced  that  Professor  Doggette  on  Monday 
week  would  commence  teaching  in  the  college,  according  to 
a  previous  arrangement,  which  had  only  been  made,  as  we 
learned  afterwards,  the  day  before.  The  Schoolhouse  which 
they  called  the  College,  belonged  to  an  individual  of  whom 


98  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

Professor  Doggette  had  rented  it.  We  now  found  ourselves  in 
an  awful  predicament,  being  nearly  1,200  miles  from  home, 
and  almost  without  any  money,  and  excepting  Mr.  Man, 
among  entire  strangers.  But  according  to  appointment,  I 
delivered  the  lecture  on  Monday  night,  and  stated  to  the 
audience  what  had  occurred.  At  the  request  of  several  gen- 
tlemen, I  lectured  again  the  next  night,  and  a  collection  was 
taken  up,  and  some  eight  or  ten  dollars  were  received.  A 
Grammar  Class  was  also  formed,  which  was  to  be  taught  at 
night.  As  soon  as  the  Board  of  Education  met  we  met  with 
them,  and  the  correspondence  between  Mr.  Man  and  myself 
was  read,  at  which  the  President  of  the  Board  expressed 
his  surprise,  as  no  such  action  had  ever  beeit  taken  by  the 
Board.  The  Secretary  of  the  Board  confessed,  however,  that 
he  had  authorized  Mr.  Mann  to  correspond  with  me  and  to 
make  the  statement  already  mentioned.  But  the  reason  of 
this  procedure  was  still  behind  the  curtain.  The  President  of 
the  Board  stated  that  the  salary  promised  was  none  too  much, 
but  they  had  neither  the  money  nor  a  house. 

During  our  stay  at  Russellville  some  ladies  waited  on  me, 
and  requested  me  to  deliver  a  lecture  on  Love.  I  consented 
to  do  so,  and  the  time  and  place  was  fixed  upon.  These 
ladies,  who  were  five  in  number,  without  my  knowledge  had 
tickets  printed  which  they  sold  for  the_  lecture,  and  raised 
nearly  $40  for  the  lecture,  for  whom  the  following  verses 
were  composed,  and  to  whom  they  were  dedicated  and  were 
published  in  some  of  the  papers  of  the  State : 

AN  APOSTKOPHE  TO  WOMAN. 
By  Rev.  B.  York.  D.  D. 

Woiuan,  what  magic  in  tliy  name! 

Who  hath  not  felt  its  power? 
The  best,  the  richest  gift  to  man, 

Earth's  fairest,  sweetest  flower. 

Yes.  lieaven's  l)est  earthly  gift  to  man. 

To  him  so  kindly  given. 
With  love  to  gild  Life's  narrow  span. 

And  help  him  on  to  heaven. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.      99 

The  Muses'  fondest  wreath  is  thine : 
Thy  praise  their  tongues  employ; 

Through  thickest  gloom  tiiy  love  doth  shine 
And  all  is  bright  with  joy. 

Without  thy  love,  without  thy  smile, 

How  dark  this  w'orld  would  be — 
A  world  without  a  sun  to  shine, 

Or  ray  of  light  to  cheer! 

Without  thee,  what  is  boasted  home? 

A  dark  and  cheerless  night ; 
But  to  that  home  thou  art  the  sun 

That  cheers  and  makes  it  bright. 

May  joy  and  peace  thy  steps  attend 

Through  life's  eventful  road ; 
And  when  thy  useful  work  is  done, 

Thy  spirit  live  with  God. 
(Russellville.  Ark..  Feb.  16.  1878). 

Russellville  is  the  county  town  of  Pope  County,  located 
on  the  Fort  Smith  and  Little  Rock  R.  R.,  containing  about 
1,000  inhabitants.  We  continued  here  some  five  or  six 
weeks,  and  succeeded  well,  though  I  was  sick  a  large  portion 
of  the  time.  We  went  from  here  to  Dardenelle,  a  beautiful 
town  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Arkansas  River.  While 
here  we  were  the  guests  of  Judge  Howel,  and  hospitably  en- 
tertained by  him  and  family.  The  preacher  in  charge.  Bro- 
ther Dodson,  treated  us  with  much  kindness.  He  will  ever 
have  a  place  in  our  memory.  We  arrived  here  on  Friday 
evening,  and  preached  twice  on  the  following  Sunday  to  a 
large  and  attentive  audience.  On  Monday,  Tuesday  and 
Wednesday  nights  I  lectured  to  an  appreciative  audience,  for 
which  I  received  some  $33  or  $34  dollars.  Taking  leave  of 
our  kind  friends  we  left  for  Atkins,  a  new  town  on  the  Fort 
Smith  &  Little  Rock  R.  R.  Passing  through  Russellville, 
we  spent  a  day  and  a  night  with  our  friends  and  acquaintan- 
ces. On  reaching  that  place  we  were  kindly  received  and 
became  the  guests  of  Esq.  Ford.  On  the  following  night  I 
delivered  a  lecture  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  on  the 
following  Sunday  preached  twice.  On  Monday  night  I  lec- 
tured in  the  Academv  on  ''The  Eng^lish  Lan2:uao;e — the  Im- 


100  Autobiography  of  Bramtley  York. 

portanee  of  Its  Study."  A  Grammar  Class  was  formed  for 
both  day  and  night.  We  continued  here  some  three  or  four 
weeks.  Before  leaving,  I  delivered  a  lecture  on  "Love,"  for 
which  I  was  moderately  remunerated.  But  upon  the  whole, 
we  did  well. 

Having  wound  up  there,  we  left  for  Lewisburg,  a  town  on 
the  northern  bank  of  the  Arkansas  Kiver,  about  one  mile 
south  of  the  Fort  Smith  &  Little  Rock  R.  E.  We  left  the 
railroad  at  a  little  village  called  Moulton.  It  contained  only 
about  twelve  or  fifteen  families,  but  there  were  five  drinking 
saloons  with  a  gambling  establishment  in  each.  At  Lewis- 
burg we  were  domiciled  with  one  Mr.  Steel,  formerly  of  this 
State,  and  kindly  cared  for  by  him  and  his  family  while  we 
remained  there.  We  were  also  receiveed  by  the  preacher  in 
charge  and  welcomed  to  his  pulpit.  On  the  following  night 
preached  in  the  Methodist  Church.  The  weather  being  in- 
clement, the  congregation  was  not  large.  On  the  Saturday 
and  Spnday  following  we  attended  a  quarterly  conference  in 
the  county,  Brother  Llarrellson  Presiding  Elder,  and  both  on 
Saturday  and  Sunday  preached  to  an  attentive  audience. 
The  Word  had  the  desired  eifect,  especially  on  Sunday.  We 
returned  Sunday  evening  to  meet  an  appointment  outstand- 
ing for  that  night.  I  delivered  a  lecture  on  "^Love"  on  Tues- 
day night.  Several  ladies  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  lecture, 
and  voluntarily  sold  tickets,  doing  well ;  for  whom  the  follow- 
ing verses  were  composed,  and  to  whom  they  are  dedicated : 

AN  APOSTROPHE  TO  WOMAN. 
By  Rev.  B.  York,  D.  D. 

Oh.  woman,  it  is  thine  to  bless, 

'Tis  thine  the  aching  heart  to  cheer ; 

'Tis  thine  to  soothe  in  deep  distress. 
And  wipe  away  the  orphan's  tear. 

'Tis  thine  to  shed  the  light  of  love, 

On  deepest  grief  that  shrouds  man's  home, 

As  cheerful  sunbeams  from  above 
Scatter  away  night's  sable  gloom. 


Autobiography  of  Bkantlev  York.      101 

Of  the  sick  room  thou  art  the  light, 

To  cheer  the  sick  and  make  them  well ; 

To  chase  away  the  sloom  of  night, 

From  the  poor  prisoner's  loathsome  cell. 

Of  man  the  boon  of  life  thou  art. 
The  central  sun  that  makes  home  bright — 

The  balm  of  every  wounded  heart, 
The  star  that  gilds  each  scene  with  light. 

When  sorrow  bows  the  spirit  down, 

Slow  beats  the  heart  by  care  oppressed ; 

Then  by  thy  smile  the  light  is  sown. 
That  cheers  and  soothes  the  troubled  breast. 

Numbers  thy  value  cannot  tell. — 
A  gift  from  Heaven  divinely  fair; 

For,  in  kind  deeds  thou  dost  excel. 
As  truth  and  mercy  well  declare. 
(Atkins,  Ark.,  April  1st,  ISTS.) 

We  next  visited  Conway,  a  town  on  the  same  railroad,  and 
here  we  met  with  rather  a  cold  reception,  for  though  the 
people  knew  we  were  coming,  an  appointment  having  been 
made  for  me  to  preach,  no  one  met  us  at  the  depot,  so  we  went 
to  the  hotel  and  there  we  stayed  while  w^e  remained  in  town, 
for  no  one  invited  us  out,  though  there  was  a  full  congrega- 
tion at  preaching.  Here  we  met  with  the  preacher  in  charge, 
but  saw  him  no  more  until  the  day  before  we  left,  though 
we  remained  there  some  four  or  five  days.  I  preached  twice 
and  lectured  once,  but  made  but  little  more  than  our  hotel 
bill.  From  here  we  left  for  home,  stopping  over  at  Lone 
Oak,  a  town  on  the  railroad,  one  night.  I  would  have  lec- 
tured but  some  kind  of  a  show  was  in  the  way.  The  soil  in 
this  state  is  generally  rich  and  abundantly  productive,  and 
the  people  generally  liberal  and  kind.  Academic  schools 
are  established  in  the  most  of  the  towns,  but  the  system  of 
public  schools  is  very  defective  and  inefficient.  We  reached 
home  in  Xorth  Carolina  on  the  20th  of  April,  and  found  all 
well. 


102  AUTOBIOGKAPHY    OF    BrANTLEY    YoRK. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Teachij^g  and  Lecturing  at  Rutherford  College,  Hick- 
ory AND  Morgan  TON — An  Eastern  Tour — Sick  at  Xew- 
TON — Lecturing  and  Preaching  at  Statesville — 

MOORESVILLE SiCK     AT     DaVIDSON     CoLLEGE PrEACHING 

IN     Charlotte — At     Monroe — Beaverdam — Polkton — 

WaDESBORO^HeSITATING LiLESVILLE ROCKINGHAM 

Laurinburg  and  Lumberton — In  South  Carolina  at 

Bennettsvillb — Funeral    Sermon — Teaching    Classes 

AT  GiLBOA;,  Pine  Grove,  Jerusalem — Return  Home. 

I  had  now  returned  from  my  western  tour  without  accom- 
plishing the  main  object  for  which  I  went,  viz. :  to  get  funds 
to  enable  me  to  publish  a  new  edition  of  the  High  School 
Grammar,  which  had  been  out  of  print  some  three  or  four 
years.  Not  willing  to  give  up  the  object,  I  resolved  to  travel, 
lecture  and  preach  with  the  view  to  accomplish  this  object. 

I  commenced  lecturing  at  the  college  and  met  with  some 
encouragement.  I  then  lectured  at  Hickory  and  succeeded 
as  well  as  I  could  expect.  I  then  lectured  and  preached  at 
Morganton,  accomi^lishing  something.  In  the  meantime, 
through  the  exertions  of  my  kind  friend,  Dr.  G.  B.  Wetmore, 
I  received  letters  of  commendation  from  some  of  the  leading 
men  of  the  State,  viz.:  Governor  Vance,  Colonel  Armfield, 
Major  Robins,  and  others.  Through  the  influence  of  these 
letters  I  obtained  a  free  ticket  on  C.  C.  Railroad.  On  the 
5th  of  June,  '78,  we  set  out  on  this  preaching  and  lecturing 
tour,  though  so  unusually  unwell  that  I  could  scarcely  sit  up. 
The  first  appointment  to  preach  and  lecture  was  at  Xewton. 
We  remained  there  three  days,  but  I  was  so  sick  I  could 
neither  preach  nor  lecture.  On  Saturday  the  8th,  we  left 
for  Statesville,  and  on  the  next  day,  Sunday,  preached  twice, 
and  lectured  Monday  night  and  received  $10.00.  On  Wed- 
nesday the  12th  we  left  for  Mooresville,  on  that  night  at  the 
request  of  the  Rev.  ]\fr.  Penick,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
on  Religion,  and  on  the  following  night  lectured  in  the  Acad- 
emy on  Love.  It  was  well  recived,  and  several  dollars  were 
collected.     On  Friday  morning  we  left  for  Davidson  Col- 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  103 

lege  to  till  an  appointment  there,  but  reaching  there  I  was 
too  sick  even  to  sit  up.  On  the  next  day  we  left  for  Char- 
lotte, but  no  better.  I  went  to  bed  as  soon  as  one  could  be 
procured,  but  on  Sunday  morning  I  was  much  better,  and 
preached  twice  in  Tryon  Street  Church,  Brother  Bosshamer, 
preacher  in  charge.  Xo  opportunity  offered  for  lecturing  as 
schools  were  closing  and  every  night  was  occupied.  On 
Tuesday  we  left  for  Monroe.  I  was  met  at  the  depot  by 
brother  Thomas  Kendall,  a  local  preacher,  and  was  con- 
ducted to  his  house  where  we  were  kindly  treated  and  well 
provided  for.  My  health,  however,  was  still  feeble,  but  I 
was  able  to  preach  on  Wednesday  night  to  a  large  congrega- 
tion, and  Friday  night  lectured  in  the  Male  Academy.  The 
audience  was  not  large,  but  intelligent  and  appreciative, 
there  being  some  six  or  seven  clergymen.  A  favorable  notice 
of  the  lecture  was  published  in  the  Monroe  Enquirer.  On 
Saturday  brother  Kendall  took  me  some  four  or  five  miles 
into  the  country,  and  we  spent  the  night  with  Colonel  Eogers 
and  his  excellent  wife.  We  were  very  kindly  treated  but  I 
was  too  sick  to  enjoy  anything.  I  was  compelled  to  sit  up 
the  whole  night  without  any  means  of  relief.  The  next  morn- 
ing the  good  lady  presented  me  with  a  two-doUar-and-a-half 
piece  of  gold.  After  breakfast  we  all  set  out  for  Shiloh 
Church  to  fill  an  appointment  previously  made  for  me  to 
preach.  A  large  congTCgation  was  assembled,  though  I  was 
in  a  poor  condition  for  preaching,  but  I  j)i'eached  as  best  I 
could.  At  the  close,  brother  Kendall  made  a  talk,  took  up 
a  collection,  and  nearly  twenty  dollars  were  received.  We 
returned  to  Monroe  that  evening,  and  had  the  pleasure  of 
hearing  Brother  M.  V.  Sherrill  preach.  By  request  I  lec- 
tured again  on  Tuesday  night,  and  upon  the  whole  in  the  way 
of  money  matters  did  well,  but  I  saw  not  a  well  day  while 
there.  On  Thursday  morning  we  left  for  Beaver  Dam,  and 
I  preached  that  night  to  a  full  congTegation.  An  appoint- 
ment having  been  sent  on  for  me  to  preach  at  Gilboa  Church 
in  the  country  on  Sunday,  it  also  being  the  regular  day  for 
the  preacher  in  charge,  brother  Rush,  we  went  out  next 
morning  near  the  church  to  meet  it.  We  were  domiciled  by 
the  Widow  Marsh,  where  we  spent  the  night.     The  family 


104  Autobiography  of  BrxVxtley  York. 

was  exceedingly  kind,  but  I  was  too  sick  to  enjoy  anything. 
From  two  o'clock  on  Friday  until  sunset  of  Saturday  I  suf- 
fered intensely,  and  nothing  could  afford  relief.  About  sun- 
set the  paroxysm  ceased,  and  that  night  I  rested  well,  and 
was  greatly  refreshed.  Preached  next  day  to  a  large  atten- 
tive congregation.  After  the  sermon  brother  Rush  made  a 
talk,  took  up  a  collection,  and  nearly  thirty  dollars  were 
contributed.  ISText  morning  at  nine  o'clock  I  delivered 
a  lecture  on  Education  to  a  good  house,  and  at  night  I  lec- 
tured on  Love,  at  Beaver  Dam,  and  the  house  would  not  con- 
tain one  half  the  people.  A  beautiful  bouquet,  together  with 
fifty  cents  was  presented  me  by  an  intelligent  lady.  Other 
contributions  were  made.  On  Tuesday  morning,  the  1st  of 
July,  we  left  for  Polkton,  an  appointment  having  been  made 
before.  I  preached  on  Tuesday  night,  and  lectured  on  Wed- 
nesday night,  and  on  Thursday  the  4th  of  July  we  left  for 
Wadesboro,  where,  according  to  appointment  I  was  to  preach 
on  Thursday  night  and  lecture  on  Friday  night.  We  stopped 
at  a  hotel,  as  no  other  arrangement  had  been  made,  but  we 
were  cordially  received  and  kindly  treated,  and  were  charged 
nothing.  About  two  o'clock,  P.  M.  I  had  a  severe  attack  of 
asthma,  which  continued  until  10  o'clock  the  next  day.  Xo 
remedy  we  had  at  hand  would  avail.  Of  course  I  did  not 
preach.  As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  go  we  were  taken  to  Mr. 
Edwards',  a  private  family.  His  house  was  within  a  few  rods 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  church  was  offered  to  me 
for  my  use  and  I  lectured  at  night  to  a  good  house,  and  was 
well  remunerated.  We  were  very  kindly  entertained  by  our 
host  and  hostess.  Here  we  hesitated  and  constdted  whether 
to  return  home  or  go  on,  for  look  which  way  we  would  nothing 
but  gloom  and  darkness  presented  themselves.  If  we  turned 
back  we  had  nothing  to  go  to,  and  to  go  on  appeared  almost 
impossible,  for  I  was  sick  constantly.  But  we  finally  con- 
cluded to  go  on. 

We  left  on  Saturday,  the  7th,  for  Lilesville,  and  reached 
there  the  same  evening,  and  put  up  at  the  hotel,  as  no  other 
arrangements  had  been  made.  The  preacher  in  charge  called 
on  us,  and  told  us  the  appointment  Avas  out  for  me  the  next 
day,  ])ut  that  ho  could  not  be  present,  as  he  had  an  a]i])oiiit- 


AuTOBIOGKArilY    OF    JiHA.NTLEY    YoRK.  105 

nieut  at  another  place.  I  preached  twice  on  Sunday  to  a 
full  congregation,  and  on  ]\J;ouday  night  lectured  to  a  good 
house.  Some  attended  from  several  miles  in  the  country. 
We  spent  Monday  and  Monday  night  with  brother  Pepper 
in  the  parsonage,  while  luy  health  began  to  improve,  and  I 
suffered  no  more  with  asthma  for  some  two  months.  Our 
hotel  bill  was  footed  by  two  young  men.  We  left  Lilesville 
Tuesday  morning  for  Rockingham ;  preached  on  Tuesday 
night  and  returned  on  Wednesday  night.  The  congregation 
was  good,  and  the  collection  amounted  to  $10.  Several  min- 
isters were  present,  viz. :  the  preacher  in  charge,  brother 
Guthrie,  and  Sanford,  and  Professor  Xeal.  We  left  Rock- 
ingham for  Laurinburg  Thursday,  and  were  met  at  the  depot 
by  brothers  B.  C.  Philips,  and  Munday,  the  proprietor  of  the 
hotel,  and  were  conducted  to  the  hotel,  where  we  were  enter- 
tained. But  as  there  was  an  exhibition  that  night  I  could 
not  lecture.  On  Friday  Brother  Philips  took  us  to  a  picnic 
in  the  neighborhood,  where  we  found  a  large  assembly  col- 
lected. There  were  large  provisions  made  for  regaling  the 
appetite  and  strengthening  the  physical  man,  but  little  for 
the  mental  or  inner  man.  !Next  day  he  took  me  to  two  of  his 
appointments.  I  preached  at  each  appointment,  sold  some 
books,  and  received  some  donations.  At  night  I  lectured  in 
Laurinburg  to  a  large  and  appreciative  congregation,  and  in 
a  pecuniary  way,  did  well.  On  Sunday  I  preached  twice  to 
large  and  attentive  congregations.  On  Monday  we  went 
aboard  for  Lumberton.  Brother  May,  preacher  in  charge, 
met  us  at  the  depot,  conducted  us  to  the  parsonage,  but  ar- 
rangements had  been  made  for  accommodating  us  at  the 
hotel,  and  in  the  evening  we  were  conducted  thither.  I  lec- 
tured on  Monday  and  Tuesday  night,  and  was  to  preach  on 
Wednesday  night,  but  the  sexton  neglected  to  ring  the  bell 
until  nine  o'clock,  and  I  would  not  attempt  to  ]-»rcaeh  at  that 
late  hour.  We  found  this  to  be  a  rather  dull  place.  We  did 
but  little,  though  we  were  at  no  ex]:)ense.  On  Thursday  we 
took  the  other  end  of  the  road  and  stop])ed  at  Shoeheel,  now 
Maxton.  I  preached  on  Thursday  night,  and  lectured  on  Fri- 
day night,  and  succeeded  much  better  than  at  Lumberton. 
Saturdav  we  went  aboard   for  Laurinbnra\   and  fell   in  the 


106  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

quarterly  meeting  of  brother  Barrett,  presiding  elder.  I 
preached  on  Sunday  night  to  a  large  congregation.  On  Mon- 
day morning,  July  22nd,  we.  Brother  Phillips,  the  presiding 
elder,  and  several  of  the  brethren  and  sisters,  went  to  Cale- 
donia church  where  a  protracted  meeting  had  been  commen- 
ced a  few  days  previous.  On  coming  there  we  found  quite  a 
number  of  people  had  assembled.  At  the  request  of  brother 
Philips,  I  preached,  and  the  Lord  was  present  to  work,  for 
quite  a  number  of  penitents  approached  the  altar.  The  meet- 
ing continued  several  days,  and  I  preached  every  day,  and  as 
well  as  I  recollect,  there  were  30  or  40  converts,  nor  had  the 
interest  of  the  meeting  still  abated  when  it  closed.  On  Wed- 
nesday night  after  the  close,  we  went  to  Brother  John's,  the 
father  of  Rev.  R.  B.  John,  on  the  Xorth  Carolina  Conference. 
On  the  following  morning  he  sent  us  to  Rev.  "William  K. 
Bruden's,  on  the  border  of  South  Carolina. 

On  arriving  there,  we  found  the  family  just  ready  to  go 
to  a  meeting  then  in  progress  at  Smyrna  church.  We  found 
the  junior  preacher  on  circuit  present,  who  requested  me  to 
preach,  and  I  did  so.  There  Avas  quite  a  stir  among  the 
people,  and  several  penitents  were  at  the  altar.  I  preached 
again  in  the  afternoon,  and  continued  preaching  once  and 
twice  a  day  until  after  the  Sabbath.  On  Sunday  the  congre- 
gation was  very  large  and  the  weather  disagreeably  warm. 
Doubtless  much  good  was  accomplished  during  the  meeting; 
the  njimber  of  converts  not  recollected.  On  Sunday  after- 
noon we  went  to  Bennettsville,  S.  C,  where  an  appointment 
was  outstanding  for  me  to  preach.  The  rain  prevented  me 
from  preaching.  On  Monday  night  I  lectured  to  a  full  house, 
and  was  introduced  to  the  audience  by  C.  H.  Huckabee,  Esq., 
a  young  lawyer  with  bright  prospects,  who  had  graduated  at 
Rutherford  College  while  I  was  a  professor  in  that  institu- 
tion. The  next  time  I  met  him  was  in  Smyrna  Church  in  his 
coffin.  I  preached  his  funeral  sermon  from  Sam.  III.-27,  "It 
is  good  for  a  man  that  he  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth."  He  pro- 
fessed religion  while  at  Rutherford  College  and  joined  the 
church.  On  Monday  night  I  preached  in  the  village,  to  a  good 
congregation,  and  on  Wednesday  we  returned  to  brother  Bru- 
don's.    Thursday  the  1st  of  August,  I  lectured  to  a  large  con- 


Autobiography  of  Bkantley  York.  107 

gi-ogatioii  at  Pine  Grove  Church.     A  liberal  eoiitribiition  was 
made.   We  dined  with  the  widow  Betha  near  the  church,  with 
whom  we  spent  the  following  2  days.   On  Sunday  morning  the 
4th  of  Aug.  we  went  to  St.  John's  Church  to  attend  a  protract- 
ed meeting,  to  redeem  a  promise  made  to  brother  Philips  some 
weeks  previous.     On  reaching  there  w^e  found  a  very  large 
congTCgation  collected,  and  I  preached  to  the  people,  and  the 
seed  sown  appeared  to  fall  in  good  gi'ound,  for  there  were 
several  penitents,  and  2  or  3  converts.     Here  I  continued 
preaching  once  and  twice  a  day,  till  Friday  evening.     The 
meeting  was  then  dismissed  as  a  campmecting  was  to  com- 
mence that  night  at  Pine  Grove  only  a  few  miles  distant. 
The  meeting  was  a  success,  and  a  liberal  contribution  was 
made.     We  returned  to  the  widow  Betha  that  evening.     I 
preached  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  of  the  campmeeting,  was 
taken  sick  Sunday  night,  and  preached  no  more  until  Wed- 
nesday afternoon.     I  then  preached  from  the  fall  of  Satan, 
and  the  effect  was  overwhelming,  there  being  some  fifty  or 
sixty  penitents  at  the  altar,  and  as  I  left  the  stand  a  brother 
remarked  to  me,  '"the  best  wine  has  been  kept  for  the  last."' 
As  well  as  I  recollect  there  were  some  75  converts  during 
the  meeting.     A  grammar  class  had  been  here  as  the  result 
of  a  lecture  delivered  on  the  Thursday  preceding.     I  com- 
menced on  Friday  morning,  the  session  to  be  20  days.     It 
was  taught  under  the  arbor,  a  regular  academical  school  was 
going  on  in  the  academy  by  Prof.  Covington  who  exercised 
with  the  class  as  often  as  his  duties  would  permit.     During 
the  continuance  of  the  class,  I  continued  preaching  on  Sun- 
day at  different  places,  and  at  the  request  of  Prof.  Covington 
and  others,  delivered  2  public  lectures  in  the  church.     The 
class  succeeded  well  and  paid  well.    We  then  went  to  Beaver- 
dam  and  were  requested  by  Dr.  Green  to  lecture  and  preach 
at  Gilboa  Church.     The  appointment  was  made  for  some  2 
weeks  hence,  during  that  time  I  attended  and  preached  at  2 
protracted  meetings,  and  one  campmeeting,  preaching  every 
day  at  each.     The  time  having  arrived,  I  lectured  at  the 
appointed  place,  and  a  Grammar  Class  was  readily  formed, 
and  I  commenced  teaching  on  the  Monday  following.     The 
class  was  large  with  some  eight  or  ten  boarders.     During  the 


108  Autobiography  of  BkxVntley  York. 

school  session  a  protracted  meeting  was  held  at  the  church, 
and  I  preached  several  times.  The  day  after  the  close  of  the 
class  I  visited  Jerusalem,  a  church  some  10  or  12  miles  dis- 
tant, preached  on  Saturday  and  twice  on  Sunday,  and  lec- 
tured on  Monday.  A  grammar  class  was  formed,  and  was 
to  commence  some  2  weeks  hence.  My  health  now  had  he- 
come  bad  and  I  was  nearly  run  down,  though  I  preached 
several  times.  We  spent  a  week  at  Mathews  Station  with 
brothers  Hammer  and  Abernethy,  and  then  went  and  taught 
the  class  previously  formed.  While  here  I  was  requested 
by  the  colored  people  to  preach  to  them.  I  did  so  and  they 
manifested  much  pleasure,  and  as  soon  as  the  sermon  was 
ended  they  came  with  their  donations  and  laid  them  on  the 
table  and  we  found  some  three  or  four  dollars.  This  school 
having  closed  we  returned  to  Gilboa,  and  taught  from  the  1st 
of  January  until  sometime  in  March,  preaching  on  the  Sab- 
bath and  sometimes  by  request  at  night.  This  school  having 
closed  we  returned  home  and  this  terminated  a  nine  months 
tour. 


CHAPTEK  XXIV. 

Teachia'g  Logic  axd  Grammar  at  the  College — Read- 
ing Proof  Sheets  at  Mebanesville — Returning  Home 
Teaching  at  Mill  Grove — Visiting  three  Camp  Meet- 
ings— Teaching  and  Lecturing  at  Bethel — At  Home, 
Teaching  Logic  and  Grammar — Returned  to  Bethel — > 
Teaching  at  Mill  Grove,  at  Mathews — Returned 

Home. 

Having  accomplished  my  object,  while  corresponding  with 
different  publishing  houses  as  to  the  publication  of  my  Gram- 
mar, I  taught  classes  in  Grammar  and  Logic  at  the  College. 
The  Sabl^aths  were  always  employed  in  preaching  at  the 
College  and  other  places. 

A  contract  having  been  made  with  a  publishing  house  in 
Raleigh,  I,  accom])anied  by  my  son  Bascom,  went  to  Meb- 
anesville  to  read  the  proof  sheets.     On  the  same  evening  we 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  109 

arrived,  was  called  on  by  Dr.  ]\Iebaiie  and  ^lajor  Bin,<z:ham, 
who  requested  me  to  preach  in  the  Presbyterian  church  that 
nio;ht.  I  did  so  and  was  employed  1o  till  their  pulpit  during 
our  stay  as  they  were  without  a  pastor  at  that  time.  I 
generally  preached  for  them  twice  on  Sunday ;  but  occasion- 
ally preached  at  Lebanon,  a  Methodist  church.  While  en- 
gaged in  this  work,  I  received  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  in 
Union  Co.  requesting  me  to  teach  a  Gramnuir  class  at  a 
church  called  Mill  Grove,  to  commence  a  little  after  the  mid- 
dle of  July.  On  our  way  home  I  preached  and  lectured  at 
Company  Shops,  now  Burlington.  The  time  having  arrived 
for  commencing  the  class,  I  set  out  with  my  son  Vicror  to 
meet  the  engagement.  On  Saturday  before  the  beginning  of 
the  class,  I  delivered  a  public  lecture  and  also  preached  on 
Sunday  and  commenced  teaching  on  Monday,  a  large  class 
having  been  formed.  I  continued  teaching  for  2  months, 
preaching  on  Sunday  at  diiferent  churches,  attended  a  camp- 
meeting  at  Zion,  and  also,  at  Bethel  in  Cabarrus  Co,  and 
also  at  Union  Grove  M.  P.  Church,  preaching  each  day  of 
the  meeting  while  there.  The  school  having  closed  at  Mill 
Grove,  we  went  to  Bethel  in  Cabarrus  Co.,  delivered  a  public 
lecture  and  formed  a  Grammar  class  for  20  days.  As  usual 
I  preached  on  Sunday  and  lectured  once  a  week  on  ''Social 
Law  and  Etiquette."  At  the  close  of  this  class,  another  was 
formed  to  commence  some  time  in  ISTov.  We  then  returned 
home  and  continued  there  until  time  to  commence  the  class. 
During  the  interval  I  taught  classes  in  Logic  and  Grammar. 
The  time  having  arrived  w^e  returned  to  Bethel  to  begin  the 
class.  [We]  had  a  large  class  in  English  Grammar  and  a 
small  one  in  Latin,  lecturing  once  a  week  on  "Social  Law  and 
Etiquette."  We  boarded  in  the  Parsonage  with  Rev.  M.  H. 
Hoyle,  of  the  Xorth  Carolina  conference,  where  I  taught  a 
class  at  night  in  English  and  Latin.  A  little  before  the 
close  of  the  class,  Victor  went  home  and  Mrs.  York  came. 
I  preached  on  Sabbath  after  the  close  of  the  class,  while 
preaching  I  was  taken  quite  sick  and  continued  so  for  several 
days.  As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  travel,  we  went  to  Mill  Grove, 
where  a  class  had  already  been  formed.  We  continued  there 
25  days,  occasionally  lecturing  at  night.     While  here  I  mar- 


110  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

ried  2  couples.  After  winding  up  here,  we  went  to  Mathews 
Station,  preached  and  lectured,  and  formed  a  Grammar  class 
for  25  days.  In  this  place  there  were  3  churches.  Baptist, 
Methodist,  and  Presbyterian,  and  a  M.  P.  nearby.  I  gen- 
erally preached  twice  on  Sunday  in  all  the  churches  except 
the  Presbyterian.  At  the  request  of  many,  the  night  after 
the  class  had  closed  I  deliyered  a  lecture  on  Love  in  the 
Methodist  church  to  a  full  audience.  On  Sunday  before  we 
left,  I  preached  in  the  M.  P.  Church  in  the  morning,  and  in 
the  M.  E.  in  the  afternoon.  The  congregations  were  large, 
and  deeply  impressed.     We  then  returned  home. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Lecturing  and  Preaching  Tour — Lecturing  and 
Preaching  at  Xewton — At  Catawba  Station — At 
Statesville — At  Lexington — At  Yadkin  College — At 
Thomasville — Trinity  College — Ebenezer — Ran- 
dleman — Cedar  Falls — Franklinsville — Mebane- 
ville — Durham — Mooresville — Raleigh — Clayton 
— Selma — Smithfield — Cary — Chapel  Hill — Com- 
pany Shops — Home. 

On  the  first  of  May  1880,  Mrs.  York  and  myself  left  home 
on  a  preaching  and  lecturing  tour.  We  met  our  first  appoint- 
ment at  Xewton,  preached  on  Wednesday  night  and  lectured 
on  Thursday  night.  Had  a  full  house  to  preach  to,  and  would 
have  been  so  at  the  lecture  but  for  a  thunder  shower.  But 
there  were  many  more  than  was  anticipated,  and  the  lecture 
was  quite  a  success.  Brother  Stamey  the  P.  C.  gave  us  his 
entire  influence.  From  Xewton  we  went  to  Catawba  Sta- 
tion. There  I  lectured  and  preached,  and  for  that  place  had 
a  good  house.  On  Saturday  afternoon  we  left  for  States- 
vilTe.  Preached  on  Sunday  morning  in  the  M.  E.  Church, 
South,  and  at  night  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  lectured 
on  Monday  night  in  the  Methodist  church.  Bro.  Hall,  the 
pastor,  and  Bro.  Wood  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  took  an 
interest  in  the  lecture  and  gave  me  their  entire  influence. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  Ill 

Oil  Tuesday  we  left  for  Lexington.  But  reaching  there  in 
the  ni'-ht,  we  were  conducted  to  a  house  through  a  mistake 
whichluid  not  been  arranged  by  the  brethren,  for  they  had 
made  iuv])arati.>n  for  our  accommodation  before  our  arrival. 
But  General  Leach  and  F.  C.  Robbins  Esq.  called  on  us 
early  in  the  day,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  us  to  con- 
tinue where  we  were. 

Brothers  Campbell  of  the  Methodist  church  and  W  atson  ot 
the  Presbyterian  Church  also  called  on  us,  and  arrangements 
were  made  for  me  to  preach  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.     I 
preached  to  a  large  congregation,  and  the  sermon  was  com- 
plimented by  Gen.   Leach  and  the  Presbyterian  preacher. 
Arrangement  were  made  for  me  to  lecture  the  next  night  m 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  compliance  with  request  I  lec- 
tured to  a  yery  full  house  on  "Education."     At  the  close  a 
liberal  contribution  was  made.     On  the  next  day  we  went  to 
Yadkin  College  and  continued  there  several  days.     During 
our  stay  I  preached  twice,  and  lectured  3  times,  and  suc- 
ceeded well.     Bro.  Simpson  the  Pres.  of  the  College  took  a 
deep  interest  in  both  the  preaching  and  lecturing.     From 
here  we  went  to  Thomasville,  and  was  [sic]  happily  domi- 
ciled with  a  kind  friend  Dr.  Wetmore.     I  preached  and  lec- 
tured to  a  good  house.     From  here  we  went  to  Trinity  Col- 
lege, where^in  former  years  I  had  labored  long  and  hard  in 
establishing  an  academical  school  which,  in  after  years,  grew 
into  a  Xormal  College,  and  now  Trinity  College.     On  Sun- 
day I  preached  to  large  intelligent  audience,  dined  with  Dr. 
Craven,  and  spent  th"e  evening  pleasantly  with  his  family. 
On  Tuesday  morning  we  were  taken  to  Mr.  Branson  Col- 
trane's,  a  nephew  of  mine,  and  from  there  to  Mt.  Lebanon 
Church,  where  two  Quaker  preachers  had  an  appointment  to 
preach,  a  man  and  wife.     We  listened  to  both  with  much  in- 
terest, but  the  woman  was  the  better  preacher.     After  they 
had    closed,    at    the    earnest    solicitation    of    many,    I    also 
preached,  so  the  people  heard  on  that  day  what  they  seldom 

hear 3  preachers   hold  forth  in  succession.     We  had  the 

pleasure  of  spending  a  few  hours  with  this  gentleman  and 
his  wife  as  we  all  dined  together  at  Mr.  Coletrane's,  our  rela- 
tive.    We  were  pleased  with  their  plain,  easy  manners.     We 


112  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

spent  the  balance  of  the  week  very  pleasantly  with  Mr.  Col- 
trane.  On  Sunday  morning  we  took  passage  in  the  wagon, 
and  all  took  a  ride  to  Ebenezer  Church,  some  4  or  5  miles  dis- 
tant. I  shall  make  no  attempt  to  describe  my  emotions  as  I 
stood  on  that  plot  of  ground,  on  which  the  house  stands.  It 
is  not  the  same  house,  but  the  ground  is  the  same.  The  remi- 
niscences of  years  long  gone  by  rushed  into  my  mind  like  a 
flood.  Here  I  saw  the  first  campmeeting,  and  how  strangely 
would  these  wooden  tents  built  of  round  poles,  compare  with 
those  tents  of  the  present  time.  Here  I  was  born  again,  and 
a  few  hours  afterwards  joined  the  Methodist  Church,  nearly 
QQ  years  ago,  and  continued  a  member  at  this  place  for  some 
six  or  seven  ^^ars,  and  was  led  by  3  class  leaders  consecu- 
tively, viz..  Rev.  Alson  Gray,  Franklin  Harris,  and  Ahi  Rob- 
bins.  All  these  have  crossed  the  flood.  Soon  after  I  joined 
the  church  the  class  became  so  large  that  it  was  divided  into 
3  sections,  and  a  leader  placed  over  each.  Hence  we  had  a 
class  meeting  every  Sunday,  one  section  meeting  on  each 
Sunday,  and  on  the  preaching  day  the  pastor  would  meet 
the  whole  class.  But  where  are  the  members,  the  Gassetts, 
the  Grays,  the  Coletranes,  the  Smiths,  the  Robbinses,  the 
Morgans,  the  Leaches  and  others,  and  the  echo  is  where. 
The  largest  number  has  gone  to  the  graveyard,  for  though  I 
preached  to  a  large  congregation,  perhaps  not  five  of  my  con- 
temporaries w^ere  present.  I  met  with  my  old  friend  and 
brother  Xathan  Robbins,  who  was  several  years  my  senior. 
Our  meeting  was  pleasant  and  he  was  much  affected  under 
my  preaching.  I  also  met  with  my  friend  and  brother.  Rev. 
Charley  Philips  of  the  X.  C.  Conference.  In  the  graveyard 
lie  my  father  and  mother,  my  oldest  sister  and  husband, 
James  Coletrane.  Also  here  I  preached  often  in  the  early 
years  of  my  ministry.  Some  40  years  had  passed  away  since 
I  was  here  before.  From  here  we  went  to  Randleman  and 
fell  in  with  a  quarterly  conference  there  on  Saturday  and 
Sunday,  Dr.  W.  H.  Bobbitt,  P.  E.  On  Sunday  afternoon 
T  ])reached  at  Union  C^hurch,  filling  an  appointment  pre- 
viously made.  Here  Mrs.  York  was  taken  sick,  and  we  were 
detained  some  2  weeks,  and  on  Sunday  morning  T  preached 
at   St.   Paul's  and   in   the  evening  at  Lebanon,  the  M.   P. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley   York.  113 

Church.     Also  during  our  stay  1  lectured  in  both  churches. 
As  soon  as  ]\Irs.  York  was  able  to  travel,  we  went  to  Cedar 
Falls,  and  were  vci'v  ])leasantl_v  entertained  by  bro  Cox,  of 
the  ]\I.  P.  church,  and  in  his  church  I  })reached  on  one  night, 
and  lectured  on  the  next  to  a  full  house  each  time,  and  $5 
or  $(>  were  contributed.     From  here  we  went  to  Franklins- 
ville,  and  were  domiciled  with  bro.  Dennis  Curtis,  one  friend 
among  many,  but  since  gone  to  his  reward.     An  appointment 
was  nuide  foi-  nie  to  lecture  on  Saturday  night,  but  I  was 
taken  quite  sick,  and  was  unable  to  till  it.     On  Sunday  after- 
noon I  attem])ted  to  preach,  but  my  strength  failing,  I  could 
not  tinish.     During  our  stay  here  I  preached  twice,  and  de- 
livered 2  public  lectures,  some  $20  or  $25  being  contributed. 
"We  were  then  conveyed  by  brother  Curtis  to  Greensboro,  and 
all  he  charged  was  to  make  us  a  present  of  $5.    Here  we  took 
the  car  for  Mebaneville,  and  sj^ent  several  days  with  our  son 
William,    during   which   time    I    preached    and    lectured    at 
Lebanon  church.     We  then  took  the  train  for  Durham,  and 
were  met  at  the  depot  by  brother  F.  II.  Wood,  the  Pastor,  and 
brother  Walker,  a  local  preacher.     We  were  conveyed  to  the 
house  of  the  latter,  with  whom  we  continued  during  our 
stay.    On  Sunday  morning  and  night  I  preached  in  the  Meth- 
odist church,  and  lectured  on  Monday  night.     The  audience 
was  not  large  as  there  was  a  political  meeting  in  towai  at  the 
same  hour;  but  intelligent  and  appreciative,  and  I  was  lib- 
erally rewarded.     On  the  day  following  we  were  met  by  our 
son  Dr.  X.  D.  York,  and  were  taken  to  his  house  near  O'Kel- 
ly*s  Chapel,  and  on  the  following  Saturday  and  Sunday  a 
two-day's  meeting  was  held  by  Rev.  W.  G.  Clements,  and  I 
preached  on  each  day.     From  here  we  went  to  Morrisville, 
and  preached  on  Friday  night.     From  here  we  went  to  the 
city  of  Raleigh  and  were  met  at  the  train  by  Dr.  L.  Branson 
with  whom  we  lodged  during  our  stay.    We  were  called  on  by 
Dr.  Black  in  the  evening  and  was  requested  to  fill  his  pulpit 
on  Sunday  morning,  a  request  was  also  sent  for  me  to  preach 
in  Person  Street  church  at  night.     Sunday  came  and  I  met 
both  engagements. 


114r  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

We  left  Raleigh  on  Monday  and  stopped  at  Clayton,  a 
village  some  16  miles  distant,  and  remained  there  some  2 
days,  but  neither  preached  nor  lectured.  On  the  first  night 
a  large  portion  of  the  men  were  gone  off  on  a  fishing  expedi- 
tion and  on  the  following  night  a  thunder  storm  prevented. 
On  Wednesday  we  went  to  Selma,  and  preached  at  night,  on 
the  next  morning  took  the  hack  for  Smithfield,  some  4  miles 
distant,  and  stopped  at  the  hotel  where  arrangements  had 
been  made  for  our  accommodation.  I  preached  at  night  to 
a  good  congregation,  and  lectured  on  the  next  night  to 
as  many  people,  and  succeeded  well.  Here  we  met  with  Dr. 
Beckwith  and  several  others  with  whom  we  had  been  ac- 
quainted some  many  years  before,  for  I  had  preached  there 
a  week  some  20  years  previous.  We  left  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing, and  went  aboard  for  Cary,  were  met  at  the  depot  by  Dr. 
S.  Pool,  were  conducted  to  the  hotel,  where  arrangements  had 
been  made  for  us.  1  preached  twice  Sunday  and  lectured  ou 
Monday  night  to  a  full  house,  and  the  contribution  was  lib- 
eral. I  was  strongly  solicited  to  remain  and  lecture  the  fol- 
lowing night,  but  could  not  accept  because  an  appointment 
had  been  made  for  me  to  lecture  that  night  at  Morrisville. 
According  to  the  appointment  I  lectured.  I^ext  morning  we 
were  met  by  our  son,  Dr.  IST.  D.  York,  and  taken  to  his  house 
some  8  miles  distant,  and  the  next  day  he  conveyed  us  to 
Chapel  Hill.  We  continued  there  until  the  following  Tues- 
day. On  Sunday  I  preached  twice  to  a  very  full  congrega- 
tion. While  there  we  were  called  on  by  Pres.  Battle,  Dr. 
Mangum,  Prof.  Shepard  of  Baltimore  who  was  then  conduct- 
ing the  State  Xormal  School,  and  several  other  gentlemen  and 
ladies.  On  Tuesday  we  left,  stopping  a  day  or  two  at  ]\[eb- 
aneville,  then  we  went  on  to  Com])any  Shops  (Burling-ton) 
to  meet  an  appointment  for  preaching  and  lecturing.  liain 
prevented  me  from  preaching;  but  lectured  on  the  following 
night  to  a  full  house.  On  the  next  day  (Saturday)  we  left 
for  Greensboro.  Were  met  at  the  depot  and  taken  to  the 
hotel  kept  by  Mrs.  Steel.  Preached  twice  on  Sunday  to  a 
very  full  congregation.  On  the  following  day  we  were 
called  on  by  various  gentlemen  and  ladies  who  made  us  vari- 
ous donations.     On  Monday  evening  we  went  aboard  the  cars 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  115 

for  home,  Rutlierford  College,  where  the  N.  C.  Local  Minis- 
ters' Conference  met  that  year.  Several  preachers  were  in 
attendance  and  various  subjects  of  interest  were  discussed. 
On  Sunday  I  })reached.  This  body  of  local  ministers  is 
doing  much  to  improve  their  own  helpfulness  and  conse- 
quently more  for  the  church  in  aiding  in  "spreading  scrip- 
tural holiness  over  these  lands." 


CHAPTEE  XXVI. 

A  Western  Tour — Preaching  and  Lecturing  at  Nebo — • 
Marion — Old  Fort — Asheville — Resting  at  Hon.  R.  B. 
Vance^s — At  Turkey  Creek  Camp  and  District  Meet- 
ing— At  Burnesville — Home. 

We  remained  at  the  College  a  few  days  only,  and  then  set 
out  for  a  western  tour,  appointments  having  preceded  us  at 
various  places.  We  met  the  first  one  at  :N"ebo  church  on  the 
first  Sunday  in  August.  Preached  to  a  good  congregation, 
and  lectured  on  the  following  day.  It  was  well  received  and 
liberally  rewarded.  On  Tuesday  we  went  aboard  for  Marion, 
were  met  at  the  depot  and  conducted  to  the  hotel  where  the 
brethren  had  arranged  for  us.  On  Tuesday  night  I  preached 
to  a  full  congregation,  but  was  prevented  from  lecturing  the 
following  night  by  the  fall  of  an  abundance  of  rain.  On 
Thursday  we  left  for  Old  Fort,  and  were  entertained  at  the 
hotel,  kept  by  the  widow  Simonton,  an  acquaintance  of  ours, 
preached  at  night  to  a  congregation  as  large  as  could  be  ex- 
pected under  the  circumstances,  as  the  streets  were  quite 
muddy.  Lectured  the  following  night  to  an  attentive  audi- 
ence. On  the  next  morning,  being  Saturday,  we  left  for 
Asheville,  and  stopped  at  a  hotel  kept  by  widow  Baird  and 
Son.  We  were  cared  for  during  our  stay  and  were  charged 
nothing.  Preached  on  Saturday  to  a  large  congregation  at 
the  request  of  brother  Burnette,  P.  C.  On  the  following 
Tuesday,  the  Hon.  R.  B.  Vance,  having  heard  that  we  were 
in  town  came  and  took  us  to  his  house  where  we  spent  3  or  4 
days  very  pleasantly. 


116  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

Towards  the  last  of  the  week  we  were  sent  to  Turkey  Creek 
Campground,  where  a  District  Conference  and  campmeeting 
were  to  be  held  in  conjunction.  We  were  gladly  received  and 
well  cared  for.  This  was  an  occasion  of  some  interest  there 
being  some  30  or  more  ministers  in  attendance.  Nearly  every 
one  that  preached  had  his  subject  assigned  some  time  previous 
by  the  P.  E.,  Dr.  Kenady.  This  increased  the  variety  and 
interest  of  the  occasion,  but  perhaps  the  effect  would  have 
been  better  if  the  preachers  had  selected  their  own  subjects.  I 
preached  on  Sunday  to  a  large  and  attentive  congregation. 
The  sermon  appeared  to  have  a  good  effect.  We  were  met 
there  by  Dr.  Clontz,  our  son-in-law,  and  were  conducted  to 
Mr.  John  Clontz's,  where  he  and  my  daughter  lived,  but  be- 
fore reaching  there  I  was  taken  quite  sick,  and  my  health 
continued  bad  all  the  time  I  was  west  of  the  mountains, 
though  on  the  Saturday  following  we  went  to  Flat  Creek 
Campmeeting,  held  by  the  M.  P.  Church.  I  preached  on 
Saturday  evening,  but  was  not  able  to  preach  any  more.  On 
the  following  Sunday  week,  I  preached  at  a  Presbyterian 
church  near  Mr.  Clontz's.  M^e  then  went  to  Burnesville,  a 
distance  of  some  35  miles.  On  Saturday  afternoon  after 
reaching  there,  at  th  rqust  of  Prof.  J.  E.  Rheim,  my  son-in- 
law,  I  delivered  a  lecture  on  Education,  and  preached  on  the 
following  day.  On  the  following  Sunday  a  protracted  meet- 
ing commenced  at  which  I  preached  each  day  while  I  re- 
mained. We  left  for  home  on  the  following  Thursday.  My 
health  for  some  time  continued  feeble.  I  did  comparatively 
little  during  the  following  winter. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  117 

CHxVPTER  XXVII.     Spring  of  1881. 

North   Carolina  Conference — Prohibition   Bill   Pre- 
sented TO  People  by  Legislature — Lecturing  on  Pro- 
hibition— At    Taylorsville,   Rocky    Spring — Olin — 
Eagle      Mills — Jonesville — Elkin — Yadkinsville — 
Smith  Grove — Moxville — Farmington — Clemons- 

ville — Yadkin  College — Lexington — Thomas- 

ville — Randleman — Fkanklinsville — Columbia — 

Cedar  Falls — New  Salem — Home. 

The  Xorth  Carolina  Conference  during  its  session  of  1880 
passed  a  resolution  memorializing  the  Legislature  then  in  ses- 
sion, urging  that  body  to  adopt  some  measure  or  enact  some 
law  looking  to  the  prohibition  of  the  liquor  traffic  in  the  State. 
Similar  documents  in  large  numbers,  poured  in  like  a  flood 
upon  that  body,  so  that,  whatever  may  have  been  the  senti- 
ment of  the  members  they  were  impelled  to  heed  the  voice  of 
the  petitioners ;  consequently  a  prohibition  bill  was  framed 
to  be  submitted  to  the  people  for  adoption  or  rejection.  This 
having  been  done,  prohibition  clubs  were  organized  through- 
out the  State,  and  preparations  were  made  for  a  vigorous 
campaign  against  the  common  foe.  King  Alcohol,  who  was . 
strongly  fortified,  being  surrounded  by  a  wall  built  of  dollars 
and  cents  almost  impeneterable  to  argument,  or  to  the  tears 
of  women  and  the  moans  of  orphans.  A  prohibition  club  of 
many  members  was  organized  at  Rutherford  College,  and  reg- 
ularly officered,  holding  its  meetings  weekly.  At  these  meet- 
ings various  plans  were  proposed  and  discussed,  looking  to 
the  best  plan  to  accomplish  the  object  in  view.  This  club 
requested  me  at  the  joroper  time  to  take  the  field  and  advo- 
cate the  cause  of  prohibition.  To  this  I  readily  consented, 
having  for  more  than  half  a  century  advocated  the  cause  of 
Temperance,  looking  to  the  desirable  end,  Prohibition.  I 
was  requested  to  ask  people  whom  I  addressed  for  voluntary 
contributions  to  aid  in  accomplishing  the  object  in  view.  On 
the  night  before  setting  out  on  the  campaign,  I  addressed  a 
large  audience  in  the  college  chapel  on  the  subject  of  Prohi- 
bition, and  some  7  or  8  dollars  were  contributed  for  the  ob- 
ject.    Accordingly  on  the  next  day,  the  30th  of  April,  I  set 


118  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

out  with  Dr.  Clontz,  my  son-in-law,  as  my  traveling  com- 
panion, to  meet  various  appointments  which  had  been  sent 
on.  We  met  the  first  at  Taylorsville  at  night.  There  was 
a  tolerably  good  house.  After  the  lecture  voluntary  contribu- 
tions were  made.  On  the  next  morning,  Sunday,  we  went  to 
Rocky  Spring  Church  to  meet  an  appointment  for  preaching. 
I  preached  twice  on  that  day,  and  addressed  a  full  audience 
Monday  night,  and  not  a  little  enthusiasm  was  manifested. 
On  the  next  day  we  went  to  Mount  Pisgah  in  Iredell  County, 
but  the  appointment  having  failed  to  reach  that  place  nothing 
was  done.  On  the  next  day  we  went  to  Olin  High  School, 
where  w^e  found  a  considerable  collection  of  people.  I  ad- 
dressed thtm  on  prohibition,  much  interest  was  manifested, 
and  a  liberal  contribution  was  made.  On  the  next  day, 
Thursday  the  5th,  we  went  to  Eagle  Mills,  and  at  night  ad- 
dressed a  very  large  audience,  the  contribution  made  was 
unusually  liberal.  On  the  following  night  I  preached  to  a 
large  congregation.  On  the  following  day  we  went  to  Jones- 
ville,  Yadkin  County,  and  preached  to  a  full  congi-egation  at 
night.  On  the  next  day,  Sunday  the  8th,  we  went  to  Elkin 
and  I  preached  twice  to  a  large  congregation,  and  on  Monday 
night  addressed  a  large  audience  on  Prohibition,  and  a  lib- 
eral contribution  was  made. 

We  returned  the  next  day  to  Jonesville,  and  at  the  request 
of  Brother  Cheely,  delivered  a  lecture  in  the  morning  on 
Education,  and  at  night  addressed  a  very  full  audience  on 
Prohibition.  On  the  next  day,  Wednesday  the  11th  we  went 
to  Yadkinville,  and  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.  addressed  a  large 
audience  on  Prohibition  in  the  Court  House,  and  preached, 
also,  in  the  same  house  at  night.  On  Thursday  we  went  to 
a  small  village  called  Andersonville  in  Davie  County,  and 
addressed  at  night  a  tolerably  fair  audience,  but  not  one 
cent  would  they  give  for  the  cause,  and  I  would  remark  once 
for  all  that  this  was  the  only  place  that  refused  to  give  any- 
thing to  aid  in  carrying  out  the  campaign.  On  Friday  we 
went  to  Smith  Grove  where  I  addressed  a  large  audience  on 
Prohibition,  and  on  Saturday  we  went  to  Mocksville  at 
which  place  the  county  held  a  Prohibition  Convention  where 
there  was  a  goodly  number  assembled.     I  addressed  the  con- 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York,  119 

veiitiuii  ill  the  afternoon,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  as  the 
tbiiii;-  was  verv  rare,  that  only  2  ladies  were  present.  We  re- 
tniMud  to  Smith  Grove  the  same  evening,  and  on  the  next 
day,  Sniulay  the  IT.th,  preached  to  a  crowded  house.  At  the 
close  of  the  sermon,  several  liquor  dealers  among  others, 
came  to  me  and  made  liberal  contributions,  remarking  that 
they  were  willing  to  pay  for  the  preaching,  if  not  for  the 
lecture.  At  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  I  preached  to  a  congregation  at 
a  church  called  Olive  Branch,  and  that  night  we  were  domi- 
ciled with  an  old  friend  and  brother,  Wesley  Johnson  whose 
acquaintance  1  bad  made  some  40  years  before.  The  next 
day  we  spent  with  Mr.  James  Johnson  who  had  been  a  stu- 
dent of  mine  at  Clemonsville ;  and  at  night  in  the  temper- 
ance hall  at  Farmington,  I  addressed  a  packed  house,  and 
much  interest  was  manifested  for  Prohibition.  At  this  place 
there  was  a  temperance  organization,  and  had  been  for  years. 
On  Thursday  we  went  to  Clemonsvville  where  I  had  oflS- 
ciated  as  principal  of  a  high  school  for  several  years,  and 
at  night  preached  to  a  large  audience.  On  the  next  day  we 
dined  with  the  widow  of  Dr.  McKeever,  she  and  2  others 
were  all  I  found  who  were  adults  when  I  lived  there.  At 
night  I  addressed  a  large  audience  on  Prohibition,  and  some 
enthusiasm  was  manifested.  On  the  following  day  we  went 
to'  Yadkin  College,  and  on  Sunday  the  22nd  preached  to  a 
very  large  audience  in  the  college  chapel,  on  Monday  night 
addressed  a  full  crowd  on  Prohibition,  and  much  interest 
was  manifested.  This  being  the  Commencement  week  we 
continued  several  days.  On  Friday  at  the  request  of  several, 
I  lectured  on  Education,  and  on  Sunday  went  out  with  bro. 
Lowe  and  preached  for  him  at  one  of  his  churches.  On  Mon- 
day night  the  30th,  I  lectured  on  Prohibition  to  a  good  house 
at  Lexington,  and  on  Tuesday  the  31st  we  w^ent  to  Thomas- 
ville,  and  there  fell  in  with  the  Commencement  of  the  Fe- 
male Seminary.  At  night  we  heard  Dr.  Wilson  preach  the 
Annual  Sermon,  and  the  following  day  deliver  the  literary 
address.  On  Thursday  we  left,  calling  a  while  at  Trinity 
College,  but  as  the  President,  Dr.  Craven  said  they  were 
all  Prohibitionists,  I  did  not  lecture  but  left  for  Branson 
Coltrane's    and   there   spent   the   night   and   following  day. 


120  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

On   Saturday   the   4th   of   June  we  went   to   Marlberry    a 
Quaker  church,  at  which  time  and  place  the  Friends  were 
holding  quarterly  meeting.     By  invitation  I  addressed  the 
people   on   the   subject   of   Prohibition   which  was   listened 
to  with  marked  attention,  and  let  it  here  be  said  in  honor 
of  the  Friends,  they  are  a  unit  on  Prohibition.     The  same 
evening  we  went  to  Randleman,  and  were  domiciled  with 
our  friend  Dr.  W.  A.  Woolen,  and  the  next  day  we  preached 
in    Saint    Paul's    Church,    B.    C.    Philips    pastor,    and    at 
night  in  Lebanon  the  M.  P.  Church.     We  spent  the  night 
with  James  Caudle  Esq.,  and  during  the  night  I  was  taken 
very  unwell.     On  the  next  day,  though  hardly  able  to  sit  up, 
I  went  to  Asheboro  to  attend  the  County  Prohibition  Con- 
vention, though  too  unwell  to  attend  all  the  exercises  of  the 
occasion.     In  the  evening  we  went  to  Randleman.     After  a 
few  hours'  rest  though  still  sick,  I  addressed  a  very  large 
audience  in  the  town  hall.     On  the  next  day  we  went  to  ISTew 
Salem,  stopping  with  Esq.  Caudle  where  we  remained  sev- 
eral days  as  I  was  too  sick  to  travel.     On  Saturday  the  11th 
we  went  to  Franklinsville,   and  at  night  addressed   a  good 
house  on  Prohibition,  and  preached  on  the  next  day.     On 
Monday  we  went  to  Columbia  Factory,  kddressed  the  people 
at  night  on  Prohibition,  and  some  interest  was  manifested. 
According   to    arrangement   we    returned   to    Franklinsville, 
and   stopped  with  Esq.    Homey   an   old   and   tried   friend. 
Ample  preparations  were  made  for  our  accommodation,  but 
I  was  to  sick  to  enjoy  anything.     In  the  afternoon  we  went 
to  Cedar  Falls  to  meet  an  appointment  previously  made,  and 
at  night,  though  quite  sick,  I  addressed  a  very  large  audience 
in  the  M.  P.  Church.     On  the  next  day  (Wednesday)  we  re- 
turned to  ^ew  Salem.     As  my  health  had  become  too  bad 
for  travelling,  I  taught  a  Grammar  class  at  that  place  for  20 
days,  during  which  time  I  preached  on  Prohibition  at  Level 
Cross  and  at  Lebanon  in  Randleman.     I  also  preached  in  St, 
Paul's  but  not  on  that  subject. 

During  the  teaching  of  this  class  I  was  solicited  by  the 
citizens  generally  to  establish  a  high  school  at  this  place,  to 
which  I  consented,  and  at  night  after  the  class  had  closed  I 
lectured  to  the  citizens  in  the  hall  on  that  subject,  when  it 


AUTORIOGRAPHY    OF    BrANTLKY    YoRK.  121 

was  resolved  to  commence  the  school  in  the  Masonic  Ilall  on 
the  10th  of  August.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare 
it  for  the  school.  This  having  been  arranged,  we  sot  out  for 
home  and  were  domiciled  with  ^Ir.  John  Aldridge  that  night. 
I  was  quite  sick  when  I  reached  there,  but  Mrs.  Aldridge  was 
very  kind  and  did  all  she  could  for  me.  Xext  morning,  Sun- 
day, we  set  out  for  Thomasville,  but  failed  to  get  there  in 
time  to  attend  the  morning  service  at  the  church,  but  at  night 
at  the  request  of  the  pastor,  J.  J.  Renn,  I  preached  in  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  at  the  request  of  many  lectured  on 
Prohibition  on  Monday  night.  Some  5  or  6  ministers  were 
present,  and  much  interest  was  manifested.  Xext  day  the 
12th  of  July  we  set  out  for  home,  and  spent  the  night  at 
Mocksville  with  brother  Coon,  the  Pastor  whose  health  was 
rapidly  declining,  and  who  in  a  few  months  died.  On  the 
14th  I  reached  home,  preached  some  two  or  three  times  on 
Prohibition,  and  also  on  other  subjects.  The  election  came 
on.  The  Rutherford  College  township  went  largely  for 
Prohibition,  but  in  the  State  it  was  lost  by  a  large  majority. 
But,  however,  much  was  done  for  the  great  cause  of  the  home 
and  nation. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Opening  of  Xew  Salem  and  Randleman  High  School — 

Educational  Association — Moving  into  the  Xew 

Building — The  School  in  a  Flourishing  Condition — 

Resignation  of  the  Peincipal,  Prof.  Rheim  and 

Prof.  York. 

On  the  10th  day  of  August,  1881,  the  first  session  of  the 
school  subsequently  known  as  Xew  Salem  and  Randleman 
High  School  was  opened,  some  24  or  25  scholars  being  en- 
rolled. My  son  Bascom  was  associated  with  me  as  teacher. 
We  commenced  teaching  in  the  old  Masonic  Hall,  and  con- 
tinued there  for  about  one  half  of  the  session.  The  school 
was  then  removed  to  the  Quaker  church.  The  first  session 
closed  on  the  day  before  Christmas.     A  public  examination 


122  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

was  held  on  the  afternoon  of  the  last  day.  The  school  was 
addressed  by  Maj.  E.  W.  York,  A.  M.,  of  Chatham  Co.,  and 
an  exhibition  was  held  at  night.  The  exercises  consisted  of 
Dialogues,  declamations,  and  colloquies.  The  students  per- 
formed well  for  the  time,  and  a  very  favorable  effect  was 
produced  for  the  school.  The  second  session  began  on  the 
first  Wednesday  in  January,  '82.  The  number  of  scholars 
was  considerably  increased.  Lectures  were  delivered  by  the 
Principal  through  the  session  on  Moral  and  Social  Law.  A 
literary  society  was,  also,  organized,  known  as  the  Eansomian 
Literary  Society.  As  Davidson  Victor  York  took  a  very 
active  part  in  its  organization,  and  in  collecting  books  for 
the  library,  a  gold  medal  was  awarded  him  by  the  society  for 
the  highest  number  of  books  donated.  At  the  close  of  this 
session,  a  public  examination  was  held.  The  annual  sermon 
was  preached  by  Kev.  G.  B.  Wetmore,  D.  D.,  of  Eowan 
County,  and  the  literary  society  was  addressed  by  G.  S.  Brad- 
shaw,  Esq.,  of  Asheboro.  The  attendance  was  large,  and  at 
night  the  exercises  consisted  of  Declamations,  Dialogues  and 
Colloquies.  Mr.  Alfonso  Ellison  of  Greensboro  was  awarded 
a  book,  having  received  the  highest  grade  as  a  declaimer, 
also  Miss  Zorada  Ingold,  of  Yorkville,  S.  C,  a  book  as  the 
best  performer.  Just  after  the  close  of  the  first  session  a 
meeting  in  the  interest  of  the  school  was  held  in  Randlcman, 
and  an  Educational  Association  Avas  organized.  Rev.  B.  C. 
Philips  was  elected  President,  T.  C.  Worth,  Esq.,  Secy,  and 
Mr.  J.  H.  Puree,  Treas.  I  was  elected  Principal  of  the 
School  and  agent  and  my  son  Bascom  was  elected  Professor 
of  Latin  and  Mathematics  in  the  Institution.  It  was  re- 
solved by  the  Association  to  erect  a  suitable  building,  and  a 
building  committee  was  elected  to  carry  into  effect  the  reso- 
lution. Trustees  were,  also,  elected.  During  the  vacation, 
Bascom  and  I  attended  the  Local  Ministers'  Conference  at 
Ealeigh.  I  preached  by  appointment  at  11  o'clock  on  Sun- 
day, and  also  preached  at  several  places,  and  solicited  dona- 
tions for  the  school  building.  The  third  session  opened  the 
first  of  Aug,  and  as  the  new  building  was  not  completed,  the 
church  was  still  occupied  by  the  school.  The  number  of 
scholars  was  considerably  increased  at  the  opening  of  this 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  123 

session.  Before  the  close  of  the  session,  the  new  building  was 
completed,  and  the  school  removed  into  it.  The  building 
was  large  and  well  adapted  to  school  purposes.  It  was  60  by 
40  feet,  with  ohajjcl  below,  and  5  rooms  for  recitation  above. 
One  room  was  assigned  to  the  Literary  Society.  During  this 
session,  Mr.  ^l.  ^I.  Lemond,  of  Union  Co.,  entered  the  school, 
and  was  employed,  also,  as  teacher  of  Penmanship  and  Vocal 
Music.  The  session  closed  with  a  public  examination  and, 
also,  exercises  at  night. 

The  4th  session  as  usual  opened  the  1st  of  Jan,  '83.  At 
the  cjiening  of  this  session  the  outlook  was  truly  flattering, 
some  24  or  25  boarders  in  attendance,  and  during  the  session 
between  70  and  SO  scholars  were  enrolled.  The  Literary 
Society  was  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  Their  hall  was 
furnished  with  suitable  seats,  the  floor  carpeted,  and  the 
room  painted,  and  a  chandelier  to  illuminate  it,  also,  a  lib- 
rary of  nearly  200  volumes.  The  faculty  (was)  full  and 
success  attended  every  department  of  teaching.  A  gold 
medal  was  put  up  for  the  best  declaimer  among  the  boys,  and, 
also,  one  to  be  awarded  to  the  best  reader  among  the  girls. 
The  commencement  came  off  the  last  of  May.  The  first  day 
of  the  occasion  was  spent  in  the  examination  of  the  students 
who  acquitted  themselves  well.  At  nine  o'clock  on  the  sec- 
ond day.  Prof.  Lomond's  class  in  Vocal  Music  were  examined 
and  exercised  on  several  pieces  of  music.  At  11  o'clock  Dr. 
W.  M.  Roxley  of  the  X.  C  Conference,  preached  the  Annual 
Sermon.  To  say  that  this  sermon  was  good  hardly  expresses 
its  intrinsic  value.  It  was  very  highly  spoken  of  by  those 
who  h(  ard  it.  At  3  o'clock  P.  ]\L  Professor  Pegram  of  Trin- 
ity College,  delivered  the  Literary  Address.  It  was  a  sensible 
and  impressive  discourse.  During  the  interval  between  the 
Sermon  and  the  Address  the  Educational  Association  met, 
when  Capt.  J.  E.  Rheim,  A.  M.,  of  Burnesville,  iSI.  C,  was 
elected  Professor  of  Mathematics.  It  was,  also,  resolved  that 
the  Principal  of  the  school  should  address  the  audience  on 
the  financial  needs  of  the  Association  and  take  up  a  collec- 
tion. This  was  done  according  to  order,  and  between  $100 
and  $200  were  received.  Other  gentleman  called  on  made 
complimentary  remarks.     At  night  the  Exhibition  and  con- 


124:  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

tests  for  the  medals  came  off.  The  exercises  as  far  as  we 
could  learn,  gave  universal  satisfaction.  J.  M.  Coltrane, 
having  received  the  highest  grade  in  declamation,  the  gold 
medal  was  presented  to  him  by  Rev.  B.  C.  Philips  and  Miss 
Zula  C.  Hays  having  received  the  highest  grade  in  reading, 
was  presented  with  a  gold  medal  by  the  same  person.  The  au- 
dience was  large,  there  being  a  good  attendance  at  every  hour's 
service.  The  audience  was  dismissed  with  the  benediction  by 
Rev.  B.  C.  Phillips.  The  5th  session  opened  early  in  August. 
At  the  opening  of  this  session  there  was  a  large  increase  of 
scholars,  nearly  100  were  enrolled  during  the  term.  As  Prof. 
Rheim  failed  to  get  in  at  the  beginning,  D.  V.  York  was  em- 
ployed to  aid  in  teaching.  A  teacher  in  Instrumental  Mu- 
sic was,  also,  employed,  but  soon  proved  himself  unworthy  of 
the  situation,  and  consequently  was  relieved  of  his  position. 
The  Institution  now  appeared  to  rest  on  a  firm  basis,  and  in 
a  fair  way  to  soon  be  out  of  debt.  The  session  had  far  ad- 
vanced before  Professor  Rheim  took  his  position.  The  ses- 
sion closed  with  the  usual  Elocutionary  Exercises.  A  gold 
medal  was  up  for  the  best  declaimer.  The  declamation  was 
unusually  good.  Mr.  W.  C.  Armfield  of  S.  C,  having  re- 
ceived the  highest  grade,  the  medal  was  presented  to  him  by 
Mr.  D.  V.  York. 

Up  to  this  time  the  school  gradually  increased  in  numbers 
every  session;  but  a  reverse  now  waited  it.  The  6th  session 
opened  the  first  of  Jan.  '84,  but  a  financial  crisis  having 
fallen  upon  the  Manufacturing  Companies,  and  the  preva- 
lence of  the  measles  in  the  school  and  all  around  in  the  coun- 
try, reduced  the  number  of  scholars  to  less  than  half  the  pre- 
ceding session.  But  as  these  causes  would  ultimately  cease, 
little  doubt  was  entertained  of  the  future  prosperity  of  the 
Institution. 

At  the  opening  of  this  session  Miss  Bettie  Bulla  of  Greens- 
boro took  her  position  as  teacher  of  Instrumental  Music,  and 
was  succeeding  well,  giving  lessons  on  the  Piano  in  the  day, 
and  on  the  Guitar  at  night.  She  was  a  young  lady  of  fine 
attainments,  and  could  pass  well  in  any  literary  circle.  She, 
however,  was  attacked  by  the  measles,  and  was  confined  to 
her  room  for  nearly  three  weeks.     On  recovering  she  left  for 


AuTOBioGRAniY  OF  Brantley  York.  125 

homo.  The  nnmbcr  of  scholars  being  so  much  smaller  than 
usual.  Prof.  B.  A.  York  left  and  taught  a  school  in  Wake  Co. 
Though  the  neighborhood  patronage  had  fallen  off  so  much, 
the  number  of  boarders  held  up  well,  having  lost  but  few. 
Notwithstanding  the  number  of  scholars  had  been  greatly  re- 
duced, yet  the  interest  of  the  school  had  lost  but  little.  The 
Commencement  came  off  the  last  of  May.  On  the  first  day 
of  the  occasion  a  public  examination  of  the  students  was 
held.  The  students  never  acquitted  themselves  better.  Rev. 
Piekette  of  the  M.  P.  church  preached  the  Annual  sermon, 
and  the  Literary  Address  was  delivered  by  Maj.  E.  W.  York, 

A.  M.,  of  Chatham  County.  Both  the  sermon  and  the  ad- 
dress were  appropriate  and  were  well  received  by  the  audi- 
ence. At  night  elocutionary  exercises  came  off,  and  a  contest 
for  a  gold  medal  among  the  boys.  Mr.  O.  Y.  Rheim  was 
the  successful  one,  and  won  the  medal.  The  exercises  were 
scarcely  ever  more  interesting  or  the  declamation  better. 
During  the  commencement  occasion  the  Educational  Asso- 
ciation held  its  annual  meeting.  Rev.  Amos  Gregson  in  the 
chair.  The  Principal  refused  to  serve  longer  without  re- 
election, and  it  being  put  to  a  vote  of  the  Association,  he  was 
unanimously  re-elected  Principal.     Prof.  Rheim  and  Prof. 

B.  A.  York  resigned.  Prof.  Lemond  having  resigned  during 
the  session.  Now  came  the  tug  of  war,  and  the  fate  of  the 
Institution  trembled  in  the  balance.  Some  discontented  spir- 
its had  been  during  the  last  session  sowing  the  seeds  of  dis- 
cord, and  some  who  had  been  the  most  active  and  self-sacri- 
ficing in  the  building  up  of  the  Institution,  were  now,  though 
perhaps  not  intentionally,  equally  active  in  pulling  it  down. 
A  union  having  been  formed  among  the  former  friends,  [and] 
the  avowed  enemies  of  the  school,  caucuses  were  held  here  and 
there  as  if  everything  depended  upon  their  plans  and  actions. 
They  finally  succeeded  in  causing  the  Principal  to  resign  his 
position  as  Principal  and  agent.  Another  dollar,  perhaps, 
was  never  collected  for  the  Institution.  They  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  employing  Professor  Brooks  and  wife,  of  Olin,  but 
Professor  Brooks  proved  to  be  unpopular  as  a  teacher,  and  a 
single  session  wound  up  the  ball,  and  that  session  was  the 
last. 


12C  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

A  Tour  into  South  Carolina — Teaching  Classes, 

Preaching  and  Lecturing — Publishing  Common  School 

Grammar — Thrown  from  a  Buggy^  Seriously  Hurt — 

Visiting  his  Children  in  Wake,  Chatham  and  Orange 

Counties — At  Home  Again. 

On  the  2nd  day  of  June,  'S4,  Bascom  and  I  left  Xew  Salem 
en  route  for  Tradesville,  S.  C,  and  reached  there  on  Satur- 
day, the  7th,  and  were  pleasantly  domiciled  with  Dr.  Dorster, 
a  gentleman  with  whom  Mrs.  York  and  I  had  boarded  some 
three  months  in  Union  Co,  X.  C.  Several  gentlemen  called 
on  us  and  engagements  were  made  for  preaching  the  next 
day.  In  the  morning,  at  the  request  of  the  Baptist  minister, 
Rev.  ]\[r.  King,  I  preached  in  the  country  some  four  or  five 
miles  from  the  village,  and  at  3  P.  M.  I  preached  to  a  large 
congregation  in  the  Baptist  church  at  the  village.  The  audi- 
ence seemed  to  be  impressed  with  the  sermon  and  I  trust 
some  good  was  done.  On  the  following;  Monday  night,  I 
lectured  in  the  same  church  with  a  view  to  forming  a  Gram- 
mar Class.  The  Class  being  formed,  we  commenced  teaching 
on  Thursday  the  12th.  On  the  following  Sunday  I  preached 
again  in  the  Baptist  church.  On  the  following  Sunday  (22) 
I  preached  at  Tabernacle,  a  Methodist  church,  out  in  the 
country.  On  the  29th  I  preached  in  a  church  in  the  morning, 
and  my  son  Bascom  preached  in  the  evening,  place  not  rec- 
ollected, and  on  Sunday,  July  6,  I  preached  again  at  Taber- 
nacle. During  the  session  I  delivered  two  public  lectures, 
for  which  some  remuneration  was  received.  On  the  10th 
we  had  a  public  examination  of  the  class,  having  taught 
twenty-five  days.  The  students  acquitted  themselves  nobly. 
On  the  following  day  we  left  for  Mill  Grove  Church  in  Union 
Co,  X.  C.  where  a  class  had  already  been  formed.  I  deliv- 
ered a  lecture  on  Saturday  the  12th,  and  preached  on  Sun- 
day morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  a  church  some  six  or 
seven  miles  distant.  On  Monday  the  14th  we  began  teaching, 
having  enrolled  thirty  scholars.  On  the  following  Saturday 
and  Sunday  the  Quarterly  Conference  was  held  at  this 
church,  Rev.  T.  M.  Guthrie,  P.  E.     I  preached  on  Sunday 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  127 

to  a  largo,  attentive  eongrogation  and  not  without  effect.  On 
Sunday,  the  27th,  I  preached  at  the  same  church.  On  the 
following  Saturday  I  attended  a  Sunday  school  picknick  at 
little  Bethel.  My  sou  Victor  having  come  to  me,  my  son  Bas- 
com  left  for  home.  In  the  forenoon  I  delivered  an  address 
to  the  audience,  and  brother  Caraway  of  the  X.  C.  Confer- 
ence delivered  one  in  the  afternoon.  On  the  following  day 
I  preached  to  a  large  congregation  in  the  morning  and  Victor 
in  the  evening.  On  Wednesday,  the  6th,  the  first  session  of 
the  school  closed  wnth  a  public  examination,  and  another 
class  was  formed.  During  this  session  I  visited  two  camp- 
meetings.  On  Saturday  the  30th  of  August  the  term  closed, 
at  which  time  we  had  a  public  examination  both  on  Grammar 
and  Logic.  The  students  acquitted  themselves  well,  and  the 
impression  made  on  the  audience  was  favorable.  On  Sunday 
the  31st  I  preached  at  Wesley's  Chapel,  Union  Co.,  N.  C, 
and  on  the  following  day  delivered  a  public  lecture  on  "The 
English  Language,  The  Importance  of  its  Study."  There 
was  a  good  audience,  and  a  class  was  readily  formed.  On  the 
2nd  day  of  Sept  we  commenced  teaching,  nearly  30  scholars 
in  attendance.  I  preached  several  times  at  different  places 
during  the  session.  This  class  closed  in  twenty  days,  and 
another  was  formed.  The  commencement  was  put  off  some 
three  or  four  days  in  order  to  revise  and  correct  the  Common 
School  Grammar,  as  another  edition  was  called  for.  Victor 
now  went  to  Ealeigh  to  attend  to  the  printing  of  the  book, 
and  I  commenced  teaching  the  class  on  Monday,  Sept.  29, 
and  on  Saturday,  the  4th  of  Oct.,  returning  from  the  class  in 
a  buggy  with  Miss  Eeid,  a  young  lady,  the  horse  ran  away, 
and  I  was  thrown  out  and  very  seriously  hurt.  Miss  Reid 
fell  out  but  was  not  seriously  hurt.  I  was  so  badly  hurt  that 
for  some  hours  I  was  entirely  unconscious  of  what  had  oc- 
curred, my  right  arm  being  broken  and  my  wrist  out  of 
place.  I  w^as  confined  for  several  weeks.  Victor  having  re- 
turned from  Raleigh  finished  teaching  the  class.  As  soon 
as  I  was  able  to  go  out  I  delivered  a  public  lecture  at  Stony 
Wall.  A  class  was  formed  for  Victor.  I  preached  for  the 
first  time  after  being  hurt  at  a  Quarterly  Conference  at  Wes- 
ley's Chapel.     I  then  went  to  Monroe  where  I  continued 


128  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

teaching  forty  days,  and  only  preached  once  during  the  time. 
While  here  Mrs.  York  was  taken  sick  and  was  closely  at- 
tended by  Dr.  Isaac  Blair,  but  he  would  receive  no  compensa- 
tion. Having  wound  up  here  I  went  to  White  Plains,  S.  C,  I 
lectured  on  Saturday  and  preached  on  Sunday  in  the  Bap- 
tist church,  and  in  compliance  with  a  request  delivered  a 
public  lecture  on  Monday.  A  class  of  some  17  or  IS  wag 
formed.  Before  this  session  had  closed,  Victor  had  left  for 
home.  After  it  had  closed  Mrs.  York  and  I  went  to  Jeffer- 
son, lectured  and  formed  a  class.  During  the  time  of  this 
class  I  preached  at  several  places.  The  class  having  closed, 
we  set  out  on  the  last  day  of  February  1885  for  home. 
Preached  at  Gilboa  church  on  the  1st  of  March.  On  the  fol- 
lowing Wednesday  we  went  aboard  the  train  for  ]^ew  Hill 
Wake  Co.,  and  were  met  there  by  our  son,  Maj.  York,  and 
conducted  to  his  house.  We  preached  on  the  following  day, 
Sunday,  at  Mount  Pisgah,  a  Baptist  church.  In  the  evening 
I  preached  to  a  congregation  of  colored  people,  and  by  re- 
quest preached  to  the  same  on  the  following  Wednesday 
night,  and  the  following  Sunday  preached  at  O'Kelley's 
Chapel.  We  continued  here  with  our  sons,  Maj.  E.  W.  York, 
and  Dr.  N.  I).  York  some  three  or  four  weeks,  preaching  at 
different  places  on  the  Sabbath,  and  sometimes  in  the  week, 
and,  also,  once  to  the  Colored  people.  Our  visit  through  here, 
we  took  the  train  for  Bingham  School,  and  were  met  by  W^il- 
liam  York,  our  son,  and  taken  to  his  house.  But  on  the  way 
I  was  taken  very  sick,  and  continued  sick  for  several  days,  so 
that  I  only  preached  once  during  our  stay.  We  then  left  for 
Greensboro,  and  were  met  by  Victor  and  taken  to  our  home  at 
New  Salem  about  the  middle  of  April,  my  health  being  still 
bad. 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  129 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Traveling  for  my  Health — At  Greensboro — Reids- 
viLLE — Leaksville — At  Home  Again. 

After  reaching  home  an  appontinent  was  made  for  me  to 
preach  on  the  following  Sunday,  notwithstanding  my  health 
was  still  delicate.  But  on  Sunday  morning  while  walking 
alone  I  by  some  means  stumbled  and  fell  with  my  face  on  a 
rock,  and  was  so  badly  hurt  that  I  could  not  preach,  but  I 
improved  so  much  that  I  preached  at  night.  We  continued 
at  New  Salem  until  about  the  first  of  May.  My  health  con- 
tinued to  decline.  It  was  thought  that  by  travelling,  chang- 
ing location  and  air  I  might  improve  my  health.  Mrs.  York 
and  I  therefore  left  'New  Salem  and  went  to  Greensboro,  and 
stopped  with  brother  Ingal,  but  my  health  improved  none. 
I  not  only  suffered  with  Asthma,  but  my  general  health 
seemed  almost  gone.  On  the  Friday  following  we  went 
aboard  the  train  for  Eeidsville,  and  were  met  at  the  depot  by 
one  of  the  brethren,  and  were  conducted  to  a  boarding  house 
where  arrangements  had  been  made  for  our  accommodation, 
but  I  was  still  sick.  Dr.  Bruton,  Pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  called  on  us  that  evening,  but  I  was  too  unwell  to 
make  any  arrangements  for  either  lecturing  or  preaching. 
On  Sunday  morning  some  of  the  brethren  requested  me  to 
make  a  talk  to  the  Sunday  School.  I  delivered  a  short  lec- 
ture to  the  school,  and  consented  for  an  appointment  to  be 
made  for  me  to  preach  at  night.  At  the  hour  I  went  to  the 
clinreh  and  found  a  large  congregation  assembled.  I  preached 
a  short  sermon,  and  was  scarcely  able  to  walk  back  to  our 
boarding  house,  only  about  100  yds  distant.  I  now  had  to 
give  up,  and  on  Monday  morning  Dr.  Courts  was  called  in. 
He  gave  me  close  attention  for  several  days,  visiting  me 
twice  and  sometimes  three  times  a  day.  Towards  the  last  of 
the  week  my  health  had  somewhat  improved,  and  on  Saturday 
morning  wq  left  for  Leaksville  and  were  domiciled  with  bro- 
ther Daniel  Field  a  local  preacher,  a  relative  of  my  first 
wife.  On  Sunday  morning  I  preached  to  a  full  congregation 
in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  by  request  of  brother  Field 


130  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

and  others  an  appointment  was  made  for  me  to  lecture  in  the 
I^Iethodist  chnrch  on  Prohibition  on  Tuesday  night,  but  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather  and  the  state  of  my  health  pre- 
vented my  filling  the  engagement,  A  young  man  present  of 
only  19  or  20  heard  me  preach  and  it  was  his  last,  as  he  was 
buried  on  the  following  Sabbath.  On  Friday  we  returned  to 
Reidsville  and  were  entertained  at  the  hotel,  Dr.  Bruton  hav- 
ing made  the  arrangement  before  we  arrived.  On  Saturday 
morning  we  took  the  cars  for  Greensboro.  We  were  met  at 
the  depot  by  brother  Ingold,  and  were  conducted  to  his  house. 
We  went  to  church  Sunday  morning  and  heard  brother  Craw- 
ford, the  Pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  Announcement 
was  made  for  me  to  preach  at  night,  and  at  the  hour  ap- 
pointed I  preached  to  a  very  large  congregation.  Brother 
Crawford  thanked  me  for  the  sermon,  and  said  he  believed 
good  was  done.  Of  the  sermon  and  the  man  the  following 
notice  was  jiublished  in  the  Greensboro  Patriot,  and  copied 
by  a  great  many  other  papers  of  the  state  :* 

On  the  Tuesday  following  we  returned  to  Xew  Salem, 
my  health  being  a  little  improved. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

A  Tour  to  the  Middle  of  the  State — Teaching  a  Gram- 
mar Class  at  Morrisville — Lecturing  and  Teaching  at 
Various  Places — Engaged  in  Protracted  Meetings 
AT  Various  Places — Return  Home. 

Soon  after  we  returned  home,  I  received  a  letter  informing 
me  that  a  Grammar  class  had  been  or  would  be  made  at  Mor- 
risville and  that  it  was  thought  advisable  for  me  to  come  down 
some  time  before  the  commencing  of  the  class,  and  preach  and 
lecture  at  different  places  throughout  the  neighborhood.  Con- 
sequently about  the  middle  of  June  Mrs.  York  and  I  left  for 
that  place.  We  stopped  at  Mebanesville,  and  spent  a  few  days 
with  our  son  William,  during  which  time  I  preached  on  the 
Sabbath  at  Lebanon  Church.     We  then  went  aboard  the  train 

•Clipping  was  not  found  in  the  Mss.     [Editor] 


Autobiography  of  Brantley  York.  131 

for  JNIorrisville,  and  were  met  at  the  depot  by  our  son  Dr. 
York,  and  escorted  to  bis  bouse.  On  tbe  same  evening  Maj. 
York  came  down  and  next  morning  we  w^ent  witb  bim  to  bis 
house,  and  on  tbe  following  Saturday  nigbt,  (2Gtb  of  June) 
I  delivered  a  public  lecture  at  Berea,  a  Baptist  cburcb,  some 
eight  miles  distant,  and  on  the  next  day  preached  to  a  very 
large  audience  in  the  same  church,  Eev.  Matthew  Farrell,  the 
pastor,  being  present.  On  this  occasion  as  well  as  all  others 
where  I  met  him,  his  bearing  towards  me  was  that  of  a  Chris- 
tian gentleman.  Also,  an  appointment  was  outstanding  for 
me  to  preach  at  Mount  Pisgab  at  5  o'clock,  a  distance  of  some 
eight  or  ten  miles ;  so  I  bad  but  little  time  for  refreshment  or 
resting.  I  met  the  appointment  and  preached  to  a  large  con- 
gregation. After  the  sermon  a  lady  remarked  to  me,  "You 
look  very  feeble."  I  answered,  ''Yes,  and  I  suppose  I  feel  as 
feeble  as  I  look,"  for  my  health  was  still  far  from  being  good. 
On  the  following  Sabbath,  tbe  1st  Sunday  in  July,  I  preached 
at  Morrisville  in  the  Christian  church,  and  in  the  evening  at 
a  church  in  tbe  country,  the  name  of  which  I  have  forgotten. 
On  reaching  tbe  place  we  found  a  large  audience,  so  that  the 
house  wonld  not  contain  more  than  half  of  them.  However, 
the  people  w^ere  attentive  and  orderly.  After  the  sermon  we 
went  to  Maj.  York's,  much  fatigued.  On  the  second  Sunday 
of  July,  I  preached  at  Massey's  Chapel,  and,  also,  on  the  day 
before,  being  the  appointment  of  the  P.  C.  Who  failed  to 
come.  On  Sunday  evening  at  four  o'clock,  I  preached  to  a 
large  colored  congi-egation  in  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Pisgab 
Church.  On  tbe  following  Tuesday  night  I  delivered  a  pub- 
lic lecture  in  Morrisville.  A  class  having  been  formed  I  be- 
began  teaching  the  next  day.  On  the  following  Sunday  I 
preached  in  a  Baptist  church  some  four  miles  in  the  country, 
and  in  the  evening  at  3  P.  M.,  preached  to  a  large  colored  con- 
gregation at  Bethel  church  near  the  railroad.  The  people 
appeared  to  be  very  much  impressed  with  the  sermon,  and  at 
the  request  of  the  pastor  they  took  up  a  collection  to  remuner- 
ate the  preacher.  On  the  following  Sunday,  brother  W.  G. 
Clements  commenced  the  series  of  meetings  in  Morrisville. 
He  was  assisted  by  Rev.  Jeremiah  Holt,  of  Burlington.  Dur- 
ing the  meeting  I  preached  three  times.     It  continued  until 


132  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

Friday  night  following  without  much  visible  good.  On  the 
following  Sunday  I  went  to  Mount  Pisgah,  and  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  pastor  preached  at  11  o'clock.  The  sermon  was 
highly  complimented  by  brother  Willson,  the  Pastor.  As  I 
could  not  remain  longer  in  consequence  of  the  school,  I  re- 
turned to  Morrisville  the  same  evening.  On  the  following 
Saturday  the  Baptists  commenced  their  meeting  in  Morris- 
ville.  I  preached  for  them  on  Sunday  and  no  more.  It  con- 
tinued some  10  or  11  days  though  there  were  but  few  con- 
verts. I  taught  two  sessions  or  forty  days  at  this  place.  A 
gold  medal  was  put  up  by  Miss  Lillie  York  for  the  one  who 
stood  the  best  examination.  The  donor  required  that  the 
class  should  be  examined  two  days,  and  Miss  Minnie  Herndon 
having  recieved  the  highest  grade,  the  medal  was  awarded 
to  her  and  presented  by  Maj.  York  in  a  very  impressive  and 
appropriate  speech.  Just  before  the  class  closed,  I  recieved 
a  letter  from  my  son  William,  requesting  me  to  attend  a  pro- 
tracted meeting  at  Lebanon  church.  We  left  Morrisville  on 
Wednesday  morning  before  day  and  reached  the  church  the 
same  day  as  the  meeting  was  in  progi'ess.  It  continued 
through  the  following  Sunday,  during  which  time  I  preached 
six  times.  The  meeting  was  a  success.  On  Sunday  the 
crowd  was  very  large,  and  I  preached  twice,  Rev.  L.  L.  John- 
son, the  pastor,  having  left.  After  the  close  of  the  services, 
I  was  presented  with  a  donation  of  some  $7  or  $8.  In  a  few 
days,  we  left  and  returned  to  our  home  at  New  Salem. 


AUTOBIOGIJAPIIY    OK    BkANTLEY    YoKK.  133 

CHAPTER  XXXIL 

Attend  the  Pkohiuitiox  Convention  in  Greensboro — 
Resting  at  Mebanesville — Teaching  School  at  New 

Salem — Preaching  on  the  Sabbaths — Take  Charge 

OF  A  School  at  Fair  View — Lecturing  and  Preaching 

— Visits  Dobson  Circuit  and  Rocky  Springs  Camp 

Meeting — Laboring  in  Protracted  ^Meetings. 

On  reaching  home,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  chapter,  I 
found  Victor  teaching  a  small  school,  but  as  he  was  desirous 
of  prosecuting  his  Theological  Studies,  I  took  charge  of  the 
school,  aided  by  his  wife,  and  preached  generally  on  Sunday 
at  Xew  Salem  or  Randleman.  On  the  3rd  of  October  a 
campmeeting  of  the  M.  P.  Church  began  at  Level  Cross.  I 
preached  on  Sunday  to  a  large  and  appreciative  congregation, 
and  returned  home  that  evening  but  Victor  returned  to  the 
meeting  on  Tuesday,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day  the 
work  greatly  revived,  and  I  was  sent  for  to  aid  in  conducting 
the  meeting.  The  preacher  in  charge  and  all  the  rest  except 
a  young  preacher  had  left.  Victor  and  I  continued  it  through 
the  following  Sunday,  during  which  time  I  preached  once  or 
twice  every  day.  There  was  a  gracious  work;  as  well  as  I 
recollect,  there  were  some  forty  converts.  I  continued  teach- 
ing this  small  school  until  nearly  Christmas,  and  as  nothing 
special  was  on  hand  we  devoted  the  time  in  writing  on  my 
Autobiogra])hy.  On  the  20th  of  Jan.,  two  gentlemen  came 
from  East  Guilford  and  solicited  us  to  take  charge  of  a  new 
academy  called  Pair  View,  and  on  the  26th  we  set  out  for 
the  purpose  of  doing  so,  and  on  Jan.  28th  '86,  we  began  teach- 
ing. A  young  man  had  previously  been  engaged  to  teach  the 
public  school,  but  as  he  proved  to  be  inadequate  to  the  task, 
he  was  relieved,  and  we  finished  the  Public  School,  which 
lasted  nearly  two  months.  Then  a  regular  xVcademical  School 
was  organized,  and,  as  I  did  not  wish  to  be  troubled  with  the 
government  of  the  school,  Victor  acted  as  principal.  There 
were  no  Methodists  in  the  community.  There  were  three 
prominent  denominations,  viz.  German  Reformed,  Presbyter- 
ians, and  Lutherans.  As  the  last  mentioned  had  a  school  of 
their  own,  they  had  but  little  to  do  with  our  school.    "We  were 


13-i  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

however,  verv  kindly  treated  by  our  neighbors,  and  convey- 
ance was  readily  furnished  for  us  wherever  we  wished  to  go. 
I  delivered  lectures  on  Social  Law  and  Etiquette  on  Satur- 
day evenings  nearly  through  the  whole  session,  and  we  were 
pleasantly  accommodated ;  for  a  house  was  soon  erected  on 
the  Academy  grounds  for  us.  The  lectures  were  well  at- 
tended and  remunerated.  In  short,  the  school  was  prosper- 
ous and  promising.  We  had  regular  preaching  in  the  Acad- 
emy and  occasionally  I  preached  both  for  the  Presbyterians 
and  German  Eeforms.  Towards  the  close  of  the  session  I 
preached  two  sermons  on  Scriptural  Prohibition.  This  ques- 
tion was  now  agitated  more  or  less  throughout  the  county  of 
Guilford.  The  liquor  traffic  Avas  the  only  thing  that  threat- 
ened the  school.  Almost  in  sight  of  the  Academy  ardent 
spirits  were  sold  by  retail,  in  violation  of  the  law.  The  peo- 
ple of  the  neighborhood  were  divided  on  the  subject  of  Pro- 
hibition. The  German  Eeform  Church  was  a  unit  on  the 
subject  of  Temperance,  but  the  Presbyterian  congregation, 
unlike  any  other  Presbyterian  congregation  I  ever  knew,  was 
almost  a  unit  in  opposition  to  Prohibition,  notwithstanding 
their  pastor,  the  Eev.  Mr.  Miller,  was  sound  to  the  core  on 
temperance,  and  preached  in  favor  of  total  abstinence  and 
Prohibition.  But  there  was  a  cause  of  the  opposition  of  this 
people;  for  nearly  all  of  this  congregation  once  belonged  to 
the  German  Reformed ;  but  as  this  church  passed  a  law  pro- 
hibiting its  members  from  having  anything  to  do  in  the 
traffic  of  spirituous  liquors,  either  drinking,  selling  or  manu- 
facturing it,  the  liquor  element  then  left  and  built  a  church 
called  Spring  Wood,  within  one  mile  of  the  Academy,  and 
joined  the  Presbyterian  church.  It  is  true,  however,  that 
there  were  very  many  clever  members  belonging  to  this  Pres- 
byterian congregation.  The  first  session  of  the  school  was 
now  hastening  to  a  close,  and  the  Commencement  embraced 
the  3rd  and  4th  of  June.  Notwithstanding  it  was  a  busy 
season,  yet  the  patrons  prepared  well  for  the  occasion.  The 
first  day  was  occupied  in  examining  the  classes,  and  was  well 
attended  by  the  patrons  and  neighborhood  generally,  and  they 
appeared  to  be  much  gratified  at  the  proficiency  made  by  the 
students.     On  the  second  day  a  very  large  audience  was  in 


AuTOBioGRAriiY  OF  Brantley  York.  135 

attendance.  Dr.  Klapp,  of  Xcwton,  preached  the  Annual 
Sermon  in  the  morning.  His  subject  was  "The  Out-look  of 
the  Workl."  Ilis  text,  "Watchman,  what  of  the  night?"  It 
was  a  masterly  production,  and  made  a  favorable  impres- 
sion. At  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  Maj.  K.  W.  York  delivered  the 
Literary  Address.  It  was  rich  in  thought  and  eloquent  in 
language.  Then  came  oif  the  contest  of  the  young  men  for 
a  gold  medal.  A  very  intelligent  committee  was  selected  to 
grade  the  speakers,  and  award  the  medal.  The  declamation 
was  unusually  good.  As  all  had  declaimed  well,  the  commit- 
tee had  some  difficulty  in  deciding  on  the  respective  merits, 
but  the  medal  was  finally  awarded  to  Mr.  Charley  C.  Line- 
bery,  of  Guilford.  The  music  was  good.  The  whole  of  the 
exercises  were  interesting  and  instructive.  At  the  close  Dr. 
Klapp  made  some  complimentary  remarks  concerning  the 
exercises.  It  was  then  announced  that  the  second  session 
would  open  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  August,  the  audience 
was  then  dismissed  with  the  benediction  by  Dr.  Klapp.  Dur- 
ing the  vacation  Mrs.  York  and  I  visited  Bascom  on  his 
work  on  the  Dobson  circuit,  and  continued  there  until  the 
last  of  July,  during  which  time  I  preached  twenty  times  at 
different  churches  on  his  work.  \Ye  went  from  here  to  Kocky 
Springs  Campmeeting  in  Alexander  county.  My  health  had 
become  bad,  but  I  preached  one  sermon  during  the  meeting. 
After  spending  a  week  or  two  with  our  son  Clegg  and  daugh- 
ter Rachel  Eliotte,  we  returned  to  Fair  View,  the  session  hav- 
ing opened  some  ten  days  before  we  arrived.  This  session 
was  much  smaller  than  was  anticipated.  When  we  reached 
home  we  found  a  protracted  meeting  going  on  at  the  Presby- 
terian church.  I  attended,  and  at  the  request  of  the  Pastor, 
preached  three  days  in  succession.  The  meeting  was  a  suc- 
cess. I,  also,  attended  a  protracted  meeting  at  the  Brick 
church  of  the  German  Reforms.  Was  kindly  recieved  by 
the  pastor,  Dr.  Welker,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  preach- 
ing during  my  stay.  The  meeting  was  a  success,  resulting  in 
some  forty  or  fifty  converts.  I  also  visited  a  protracted 
meeting  at  Mount  Pleasant  church,  Rev.  J.  A.  Bowles  pas- 
tor. I  preached  on  Sunday  morning,  and  Victor  in  the 
evening.     The  meeting  as  I  learned  resulted  in  quite  a  num- 


136  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

ber  of  converts.  In  the  meantime  I  attended  the  prohibition 
convention  in  Greensboro,  and  by  request  made  a  speech  be- 
fore the  convention.  There  was  a  larg  attendance,  and  sev- 
eral speeches  delivered.  I  also  attended  a  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence at  Holts  Chapel,  Kev.  J.  A.  Cuninggim  P.  E.  The 
meeting  was  protracted  and  continued  through  the  following 
Sabbath.  I  preached  frequently  during  the  meeting.  Bro- 
ther Jones,  a  Quaker  preacher,  also  aided.  Though  good 
was  done  and  some  were  converted  yet  there  was  a  serious 
drawback  on  account  of  an  existing  difficulty  between  some 
of  the  principal  members.  Victor  having  determined  to  join 
Conference  resigned  his  position  when  the  session  was  only 
half  out,  and  soon  after  Mrs.  York  and  I  went  to  our  son 
William's  at  Mebanesville,  Iv'.  C. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Celebrates  his  Golden  Wedding — Visits  Dobson  Cir- 
cuit— Teaching,  Lecturing  and  Preaching — Visiting 
Brevard   Circuit — Preaching   Frequently — Visiting 

Daughters  in  Yancey  and  Buncombe  Counties — At 

Home  in  Alexander  County — Visits  Bascom's  Work 

IN  Stanley  County. 

In  a  few  days  after  our  arrival  at  William's,  the  day  of  our 
Golden  Wedding  arrived,  viz.,  Xov.  13,  1886,  but  the  chil- 
dren were  so  scattered  and  pursuing  so  many  different  voca- 
tions that  it  was  seemingly  impossible  to  bring  them  together, 
hence  but  little  was  done  on  the  occasion.  A  few  of  the 
neighbors  were  invited,  and  a  supper  was  given  by  William 
and  Mary.  At  the  request  of  some  of  the  guests,  I  made  a 
short  talk  on  the  occasion.  Having  s]Kmt  some  time  in  con- 
versation, singing  and  ])rayer  were  had  and  the  company 
adjourned.  My  health  was  bad  nearly  all  the  time  I  re- 
mained here,  consequently  I  neither  lectured  or  ])rcached. 
The  Annual  Conference  at  Reidsville  having  adjourned, 
Bascom  came  to  see  us  and  requested  ns  to  go  home  with  him 
to  his  work  on  the  Dobson  circuit,  so  we  left  here  on  the  21st 


Autobiography  of  Bkantley  Youk.  137 

of  Dec,  and  on  Christmas  eve  the  2-ith  we  arrived  at  Dob- 
son.  On  the  following  Sunday  I  preached  a  Christmas  ser- 
mon, and  also  on  the  next  Sabbath  a  Xew  Year's  sermon.  We 
continued  here  about  four  months,  during  which  time  I 
delivered  a  course  of  lectures  at  Dobson,  taught  a  Grammar 
class  at  night,  and  preached  several  times  at  different  ai>- 
pointments  on  his  work.  On  the  30th  of  April  1887,  we  left 
Dobson  with  a  view  to  visit  Victor,  jMrs.  Rheim,  and  Mrs. 
Clontz,  our  children  beyond  the  Blue  Eidge.  We  spent  Sun- 
day, 1st  of  May  at  Elkin.  I  preached  in  the  morning  and 
Bascom  at  night.  I  also  delivered  a  lecture  on  the  ^'Problem 
of  Social  Life''  on  Monday  night.  Tuesday  morning  we  left 
for  Moravian  Falls,  where  I  lectured  at  night.  The  next 
day  we  reached  our  son's,  at  York  Institute.  I  preached  on 
Sunday  the  8th  in  Rocky  Springs  Church,  and  lectured  on 
the  following  Wednesday  night  on  "The  Problem  of  Social 
Life,"  and  on  the  following  Sunday,  the  15th,  I  preached  on 
the  occasion  of  the  Childrens  Day,  and  on  Thursday,  the  19th 
we  left.  Spent  the  same  night  with  my  daughter,  Rachel 
Elliotte,  and  on  the  next  day  we  went  to  Statcsville,  took  the 
train  for  Connelly's  Springs.  Stopping  here  we  were  pleas- 
antly domiciled  with  brother  William  Connelly.  On  the 
next  day  we  attended  a  Sunday  School  Pic-Xic  at  the  Col- 
lege. On  the  next  day  Sunday  22,  I  preached  at  the  College 
twice,  and  on  Monday  night  lectured  on  "Education,  Man 
the  Proper  Subject  and  End."  On  Wednesday  the  25th  we 
went  aboard  for  Asheville.  There  we  were  met  by  Victor. 
Spent  the  night  in  town,  and  next  day  reached  Brevard,  a 
distance  of  35  or  40  miles.  On  the  Friday  following  had  the 
pleasure  of  meeting  brother  Camell  (  ?)  P.  E.  of  the  Ashe- 
ville District,  and  two  other  preachers,  bros  Pickett  and 
Grier.  I  preached  at  night,  and  on  the  following  day  we 
went  to  a  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mission, 
at  Greenwood,  eight  miles  distant.  At  the  request  of  the  P. 
E.,  I  preached  on  Saturday  at  11  and  also  on  Sunday  at  the 
same  hour.  I  continued  with  Victor  on  his  work  until  the 
first  of  September ;  generally  preaching  twice  on  Sunday  and 
some  time  during  the  week.  Early  in  this  month  I  reached 
Prof.  Rheim's  in  Yancey  County,  where  I  met  with  Mrs. 


138  Autobiography  of  Brantley  York. 

York  M'ho  had  left  some  six  weeks  before,  where  we  con- 
tinued here  several  weeks.  But  my  health  was  so  bad  I  only 
preached  once,  and  then  had  to  sit  part  of  the  time  while 
preaching.  Some  time  in  October  we  went  to  Buncombe 
County  to  visit  my  daughter,  Mrs.  Dr.  Clontz.  My  health 
had  somewhat  improved,  so  that  I  preached  some  three  times 
while  here.  Early  in  November  we  left  for  our  old  home  at 
York  Institute,  in  Alexander  County.  Stopping  at  Connel- 
ley's  Springs,  we  spent  three  days  and  I  preached  on  Sunday. 
On  the  16th  Nov.  reached  our  destination.  Here  we  con- 
tinued till  early  in  March  "88.  During  the  time  I  taught  a 
class  in  Grammar  and  Applied  Arithmetic. 

Preached  on  Thanksgiving  day  and  almost  every  Sunday 
while  here.  The  congregation  was  large  and  appreciative. 
On  Christmas  eve  we  were  severely  ''pounded"  by  these  kind 
people.  In  truth  we  were  amply  supplied  during  our  stay, 
and  they  were  exceedingly  loath  to  give  us  up.  On  the  day 
before  Christmas  we  were  startled  with  the  sad  news  that  our 
daughter  Mrs.  T.  F.  Elliotte,  of  Iredell  County,  had  on  that 
morning  suddenly  died,  on  that  morning  in  the  bed.  If  any- 
one should  enquire  how  she  died,  we  would  say  as  she  had 
lived  a  devoted  Christian,  we  have  no  doubt  but  that  she  was 
ready  when  the  summons  came.  In  this  community  I  had 
preached  to  this  people  more  or  less  for  forty  years,  had 
taught  Grammar  and  Elocution  here  more  than  forty  years 
ago,  and  subsequently  ran  a  High  School  for  several  years. 
Here  Camp-meetings  have  been  held  annually  for  more  than 
fifty  years.  The  church  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
and  pays  nearly  $200  yearly  to  the  support  of  the  pastor.  It 
was  highly  gratifying  to  us  to  meet  with  so  much  kindness 
and  aid  from  this  people  with  whom  we  had  in  former  years 
spent  so  much  time  and  labor,  even  from  the  noon  of  life  to 
its  dusky  eve.  "While  at  this  place,  I  visited  Taylorsville. 
Preached  on  Sunday  morning  in  the  Presbyterian  church  to 
a  large  and  appreciative  congregation,  and  in  the  Methodist 
church  at  night,  and  delivered  a  public  lecture  in  the  former 
church  on  Monday  night.  The  public  manifested  their  ap- 
preciation of    my    preaching    and  lecturing  by  contributing 


AUTOBIOGKAPIIY    OF    BrANTLEY    YoKK.  139 

sonic  12  or  13  dollars.  I  also  preached  at  Cedar  Run  to  a 
large  audience,  at  the  request  of  the  Principals.  Having 
wound  up  here  we  left  on  the  7th  of  March  to  visit  Bascom 
at  Big  Lick  in  Stanley  County  and  were  met  by  him  on  the 
8th  at  Concord,  and  on  the  10  March,  1888,  reached  this 
place  and  found  oU  well. 


